Health

Sleep & Insomnia – Hidden Facts About Sleeping You Should Know

Sleep is the state in which all the body and mind is at rest from all the day’s activity.  It is also a time when the body and brain “shut off” for a few hours each night to rest in preparation for the next day.

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles during rapid eye movement sleep, and reduced interactions with surroundings.

Sleep is every important to man as it helps in many ways you cannot imagine. According to Harvard University research, one in every five Americans sleeps less than six hours a night—a trend that can have serious personal health consequences.

Sleeplessness also called “Insomnia”  is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. It also waking up often during the night and finding it difficult to go back to sleep or waking up too early in the morning and feeling tired to wake up.

Sleep deprivation increases the risk for a number of chronic health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Reasons why you should sleep well everyday

  • Good Sleep Can Improve Concentration and Productivity
  • Good Sleep Can Maximize Athletic Performance
  • Good Sleepers Tend to Eat Fewer Calories
  • Poor Sleep Can Make You Fat
  • Poor Sleep Is Linked to Depression
  • Poor Sleep Is Linked to Increased Inflammation
  • Poor Sleepers Have a Greater Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
  • Sleep Affects Emotions and Social Interactions
  • Sleep Affects Glucose Metabolism and Type 2 Diabetes Risk
  • Sleep Improves Your Immune Function

 

Some Causes of Sleeplessness (Insomnia)

  • Depression
  • Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, moving)
  • Illness
  • Emotional or physical discomfort
  • Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
  • Some medications (for example those used to treat colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma) may interfere with sleep
  • Interferences in normal sleep schedule (jet lag or switching from a day to night shift, for example)
  • Nasal/sinus allergies
  • Gastrointestinal problems such as reflux
  • Endocrine problems such as hyperthyroidism
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Chronic pain
  • Low back pain and many more

 

What to do to get a Good Night Sleep

  • Check for underlying causes.
  • Practice good sleep hygiene.
  • Nap if needed.
  • Exercise earlier, not later.
  • Watch your diet.
  • See a sleep specialist.

Source www.health.harvard.edu

 

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