Sleeping Your Way to a Healthier and Happier Life

Healthcare May-09-2023 0

For everything we do whether it is studying, working, partying, playing, or something else we need to have a calm and relaxed mind. If you are investing 100 percent of the day in working and not taking rest you will not only fall sick but you will also start losing your mental stability.

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This shows how important sleeping is. As per the studies, there are recommended number of hours a person should sleep according to the age group.

• For an infant 4 months to 12 months old it is healthy if the infant sleeps including naps for 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours.
• For a child in the age group of 1 to 2 years, the recommended number of hours including the nap period is 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours.
• For a child in the age category of 3 to 5 years, it is 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours, including naps.
• For a child in the age group of 6 to 12 years, the recommendation is 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours
• For teenagers i.e. 13 to 18 years 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours is sufficient
• For adults, a sound sleep of 7 to 8 hours is enough for them to carry on with their day-to-day functions

Sleep and Sound Sleep

There is a difference between sleep and sound sleep. Sleep refers to the natural state of rest; sound sleep is a deeper and more restorative phase of sleep that is essential for optimal health and well-being.

Sleep is essential for our health, sound sleep is especially important, as it is the stage of sleep during which our body and mind receive the most significant benefits.

Sleep refers to the natural state of rest wherein our body and brain are somewhat inactive and we are not deliberately mindful of our surroundings. It is a fundamental part of our general well-being and health, both mental and physical. It plays a significant part in different physiological cycles, for example, repairing and recovering our tissues and cells, consolidating memories, and directing our digestive system.

Sound sleep, on the other hand, is considered to be a particular sort of rest described by a profound and uninterrupted sleep cycle. It is the period of rest where the mind waves slow down, and the body is in complete rest mode. It is the level of sleep when our breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure are at their lowest levels.

What happens if we are not sleeping enough?

Not getting enough sleep can have a significant impact on our health and well-being. When you are not getting enough sleep you are in a sleep-deprived state. Here are some of the bad effects of sleep deprivation on health:

• Impaired mind function: Sleep deprivation can impair your ability to think clearly, concentrate, make decisions, and solve problems. It brings a sense of confusion and you keep on feeling lost and inattentive all the time. It also negatively affects our memory and learning abilities.

• Mood changes and irritation: Lack of sleep can cause irritability, mood swings, and increased anxiety and stress levels. It can also contribute to depression. When you don’t sleep you are either indulging yourself in overthinking or you are increasing your screen time both factors responsible for depression.

• Weakened immune system: Sleep is essential for an immune system to work properly, and not getting enough sleep can weaken your body's ability to fight off infections and diseases. You tend to feel lazy and weak all the time.

• Exposed to the risk of chronic health problems: Sleep deprivation is linked to an increased risk of chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It disturbs the normal functioning of the body and opens up the door to many such health issues.

• Drowsiness: Sleep deprivation can cause drowsiness, decreased reaction time, and impaired judgment, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.

Sleep deprivation affects quality of life

Not getting enough sleep can have some major negative effects on our overall quality of life. It can have negative effects on your relationships because of mood swings and irritation all the time.

It also negatively affects your work performance as you keep on feeling lazy and uninterested in everything you do. Thus, sleep deprivation has negative effects on your overall well-being.

Benefits of sleep on your overall health

Getting enough sleep is very important for our health and well-being. Here are some of the benefits of sleep on health:

• Physical recovery and restoration: During sleep, your body repairs and regenerates tissues and cells. It helps in fast recovery from physical activity and injuries. This is because of the fact that during sleep you are in resting mode and do not move your muscles a lot thus helping them in repairing fast.

• Strong immunity system: Sleep is essential for a healthy immune system. It helps your body fight off infections and diseases more actively.

• Improved cognitive function: Sleep improves our ability to think clearly, concentrate, make decisions, and solve problems. It can also enhance our memory and learning abilities.

• Mood regulation: Getting enough sleep can improve our mood as it makes us feel relaxed. It also helps in reducing stress levels and lowering the risk of depression and anxiety. It keeps you happy and also helps in staying away from irritation.

• Reducing the risk of getting chronic diseases: Sleep is associated with a lower risk of chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It helps in preventing overthinking.

• Removes laziness and keeps you energetic and productive: Getting enough sleep can increase our energy levels and productivity, allowing us to perform better in our daily activities.

• Improved memory: Sound sleep helps in improving your memory and learning abilities. It also helps you in concentrating better.

The importance of sleep to our general health cannot be overstated. Sleep not only benefits our body but also helps our thoughts and emotions feel better. Our bodies grow when we get enough sleep, and it also gives us energy and helps us fend off illness.The importance of having enough sleep for our bodies cannot be overstated, just as the importance of eating well and exercising cannot be. Resting keeps us in good spirits and improves our ability to concentrate and learn in class. We feel better and more energised after getting a good night's sleep because it also aids in our body's ability to repair and develop.

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Disclaimer : The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns about your health or are experiencing symptoms, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional. They will be able to assess your specific situation and provide you with personalised advice and treatment based on your symptoms, body type, allergies (if any), existing medical conditions etc. It is always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health.