Why Good Night Sleep Matters?
Why Good Night Sleep Matters?
Do you know humans are the only species among mammals, who can willingly delay sleep? Yes, you read that right. However, knowing something is only the beginning of solving any problem. More than anything, getting a good nights sleep solves a lot of problems.
The benefits of good sleep are simpler to understand, compared to the actual concept of sleep. A good nights sleep is essential to feel fresh and active in the morning and during the entire day. It is no surprise that sleeping has always constituted a significant part of our lifestyle, since time immemorial.
Since sleep plays one of the most important role in our lives, anything that disrupts a peaceful sleep is considered a problem. Snoring is one factor that is as a hindrance to a good nights sleep, and therefore, has been widely studied and understood.
Nevertheless, delay in sleep, insomnia and sleep deficiency are relatively newer phenomenon. Introduction of technology in the form of television, mobile devices and tech gadgets have largely been responsible to play havoc with sleep. Evidently, your social media notifications are directly proportionate to the number of hours of sleep one gets every night. As a result, people are growingly feeling lethargic and finding it problematic to concentrate on anything for long.
To understand better why sleep is crucial for proper functioning of our body and all its senses, let us delve into what happens to the body while sleeping:
Why Sleep Matters
Have you ever seen a baby take a nap? Isn’t it the most satisfying thing to see? Maybe that is why people say, ‘slept like a baby’ and not like an ‘adult So, what defines a good night’s sleep? Let us break down the major factors to assess whether you had a good night’s sleep, for you to garner a better understanding of the subject. Do you feel fresh when you wake up? Usually, it will take just a few seconds after you wake up, to know whether you slept well, or not. Feeling worn out or too tired to get out of bed, are the first indicators that you did not sleep well. Indicators of good sleep A complete sleep rejuvenates your mind and body. While you are sleeping, the body undergoes a healing process, as growth hormones are secreted. This in turn, promotes tissue growth and repair. This helps the body to recover from the wear and tear caused from activities during the entire day, and make you feel energized, for the next day.
Indicators of bad sleep
Snoring- It is one factor that not only indicates bad or disturbed sleep, but also can give rise to other factors that signify unrestful sleep, like acid reflux and daytime sleepiness. Acid reflux/heartburn- Lack of sleep can cause the acid in your stomach to move upward, due to improper functioning of the esophageal sphincter valve between stomach and esophagus. This causes the feeling heartburn or what is commonly known as acidity. Headache- If you miss on your REM sleep, it can cause bad morning headaches. Mood swings- Lack of sleep will keep you restless and irritable throughout the day. This affects your mood, making you more susceptible to anger and agitation. Throat ache- It is a condition that can arise due to consecutive episodes of bad sleep. Research suggests that sleep deprivation is connected to a vulnerability to cold.1 It is also stated that proper sleep pattern provides better resistance against bacteria and viruses. Body ache- Widespread pain in joints and muscles can be a result of poor night’s sleep. This has been proved in a study done for Arthritis and Rheumatology.2 Now that we know whether we actually had a good sleep or not, it is good to know about some sleep disorders as well.
