For good health, good quality sleep is absolutely important. The role and importance of sleep for better health can be understood through the body functions dependent upon the quality of sleep we have. The sleep requirement is not the same across people. Around 8 hours of quality sleep are needed on average for the balanced functioning of the body.
Weight management: It has been found that persons who are sleep deprived have higher chances of being obese. Their hormonal balance is impacted and it has been observed that sleep-deprived persons tend to eat more.
Focus and concentration:
Most of the people who are not able to have adequate sleep lack concentration. They are not able to focus on their work. Specifically, the person doing more mental work faces challenges in their performance and they are more prone to be inaccurate in doing what they do.
Cardiac health
There exists enough evidence to suggest that persons who have a sufficient amount of quality sleep have better cardiac health and vice versa. Sleep-deprived individuals are found to be having higher blood pressure; though varying results are seen with different persons.
Mental health
Good sleep is essential for a sound mind too. Most of us neglect the magic of sleep and take it for granted. By the time we become aware of the effectiveness of sleep in warding off various diseases including mental health; by then in many cases, it has already become challenging to regain the health we have lost on account of sacrificing our necessary sleep. It has been proven that hormonal balance is thrown out of place by poor sleeping habits and patterns.
The effect is gradual and needs to be checked before it reaches the point of no return. Poor thyroid functioning, type 2 diabetes, obesity, stress, anxiety, gastronomical health, weak immunity, healing and repair of the body, rejuvenation of the body, hypertension, etc all are connected with sleep and sleep quality. It is believed that there is no condition of the body which is not impacted by the way we sleep. Our body repairs and heals during sleep.
Poor sleep results in poor performance of bodily functions and accumulated sleep debt slowly turn into diseases. Improper and insufficient sleep affects one’s performance and productivity. It creates lethargy and daytime sleepiness. A large portion of serious and fatal vehicular accidents are attributed to feeling sleepy while driving. It disorients and affects decision-making.
It has also been seen that body’s metabolism is impacted by the quality of sleep. In turn, poor metabolism or dysfunctional metabolism can cause many illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, indigestion, and other harmonic. The food we eat is used by our body to convert it into energy. Food comprises fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins minerals along with dietary fiber. The balance of substances in the body is disturbed by poor absorption of nutrients from food due to metabolic disorders attributable to sleep deprivation. Breaking down carbohydrates, amino acids, etc. amongst other problems is affected by the metabolic disorder. Energy to our body is provided by carbohydrates along with fats. The job of maintenance, repair, and growth is looked after by proteins along with minerals and vitamins that contribute to fighting against diseases. It is a proven and accepted fact that lack of proper sleep on a continuous basis can disturb the whole process of digestion and thus interfere with metabolism.
It has also been found that sleep deprivation is linked to the onset of diabetes or the worsening of it. Inflammation in the body is also activated and accelerated by sleep deprivation.
Thus, we can understand how good sleep is responsible for the proper functioning of our body. Therefore, due care shall be taken with regard to this important vertical of health management.
