Sleep - a Miracle to Healthy Life
Published on Feb 21, 2017 and last reviewed on Sep 29, 2022 - 3 min read
Abstract
This article highlights the importance of sleep and the consequences of a sleepless night.
Sleep is a word that is defined differently by different people. When a human is born, the baby is said to be kept sleeping for 12-15 hours, which is essential for his growth. But, as we grow older and older, the sleep pattern changes over time, and we end up getting only 5 to 6 hours of sleep every day.
Sleep, as we say, is a state in which all our body mechanics come to a rest position. Sleep consists of REM cycle in which the person does rapid eye movement, where we can say that the individual is dreaming and is completely sleeping. This REM is very much essential to complete the sleep cycle. Recent studies have found that an adult needs a complete 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day. Nowadays, people are getting too busy in their work life that they are not getting much time for good sleep. This has become a routine part of everyone’s life, but they do not realize the consequences they have to face in the next 5 to 6 years because of such negligence.
Sleep will always remain of paramount importance for everyone, and everyone should get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep no matter how important is the work next day or how urgent you are supposed to reach your office next morning.
Find below the importance and effectiveness of sleep.
- Sleep delays the degenerative process of the musculoskeletal system and the neurological system of the body.
- Sleep allows detoxification of the body.
- Sleep improves your efficacy at work, concentration, focus on work and helps improving memory, both short-term and long-term.
- Sleep helps rejuvenate the facial skin tissue by which one can get a glowing and healthy skin and prevents premature ageing.
- Sleep helps in forgetting the bad old memories and helps build more creativity.
- The sleep-wake pattern should be maintained properly every day, as each day is counted for the duration of sleep you get.
- The study shows women who have a work-life balance that is, who maintain both professional and personal life should be getting more than 8 to 9 hours of sleep, which will improve their multitasking capacity.
- Sleep maintains the proper functioning of circulatory system of the body.
- A sports person needs sleep for around 9 hours, which helps them decrease DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) that is essential before the commencement of the next game.
- Sleep boosts the immune system of the body, which then works better against the antibodies.
- Sleep induces the natural painkillers like endorphin and encephalin inside the body, which heals any minor damaging process going inside.
- Sleep improves the working of the five senses of the body. Sleep helps you to build more thoughtful, creative and innovative ideas at work.
- Sleep is necessary for pregnant ladies both for the baby’s growth and the mother’s physiological changes.
- Sleep prevents osteoporotic changes of bones, through proper ossification and calcification of bones.
- Sleep reduces the chance of heart attacks and other cardiac problems by maintaining a proper circadian rhythm of the heart.
- Sleep also decreases the chance of any psychological problems.
- Sleep also reduces the occurrence of a migraine and other types of headaches.
These are some essential facts about sleep which should be followed by everyone. Every individual needs to make an effort to have a sound sleep to avoid all kinds of health problems. Remember, a person can survive if not taken food for a day but a person’s chance of survival decreases if he does not get a sound sleep for 24 hours.
To know more about the importance of sleep, consult a sleep medicine physician online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/sleep-medicine-physician
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
Why Is Sleep a Part of a Healthy Lifestyle?
Good, adequate, and efficient sleep is essential to lead a healthy lifestyle, as proper sleep patterns help improve brain function, mood enhancement, and mental health.
2.
Why Is Sleep So Important?
Various positive outcomes of good sleep make it so important, like:
- Brain function improvement.
- Emotional stability.
- Reduced risk of systemic diseases.
- Weight management.
3.
What Is the Adequate Sleep Duration?
Optimum sleep durations vary according to the age of the individuals. Children need significantly more sleep than adults. Between the age of 3 to 5 years, children need 10 to 13 hours of sleep, whereas adults (above 18 years) need at least 7 hours of sleep.
4.
What Is the Benefit of Sleeping Early?
“Early to bed and early to rise makes Jack healthy, wealthy, and wise.” It is not just a saying but is scientifically supported. Sleeping early leads to:
- Fewer eye bags.
- Healthier skin.
- Improved mood.
- Better concentration.
- Lower risk of systemic diseases.
- Improves libido.
- Improves immunity.
- Lower risk of vascular disorders.
5.
What Makes Sleep So Important for the Brain?
Sleep improves brain function as a healthy amount of sleep is important for brain plasticity or adapting to stimulus. Sleep also affects how neurons communicate within the nervous system.
6.
When Can You Call a Sleep of Good Quality?
A healthy amount of sleep in adults should be between 7 to 9 hours. Most individuals do not need more than 8 hours of sleep every day. Additionally, maintaining a consistent sleep pattern helps reinforce the circadian rhythm of the brain.
7.
Is It Possible for Sleep to Make One Smarter?
Sleep, evidentially, affects a person’s IQ (intelligence quotient). It has been found that with each hour of sleep loss, IQ drops by 6.11 points. Deficient sleep affects cognitive functioning, mental activity, concentration capability, and the ability to learn new things.
8.
Which Is the Healthiest Time to Wake Up?
The best time to wake up is between the morning hours of 6:30 and 7:00, with around seven hours of sleep in the kit.
9.
What Can Be Done to Improve Sleep Health?
Certain lifestyle modifications can be done to improve overall sleep health:
- Strict sleep schedule.
- Diet.
- Restful environment.
- Limiting daytime naps.
- Increased physical activity.
- Stress management.
10.
How to Fall Asleep Fast?
To fall asleep faster, one must:
- Stop overthinking.
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
- Avoid screen time before bedtime.
- Stress management.
- Avoid sleep-depriving food and drinks (like tea and coffee).
11.
Is It Possible for Sleep to Make One Look Younger?
During sleep, cutaneous blood flow increases, which helps maintain skin health. In a deficient sleep cycle, the skin repair and maintenance process is hampered, and the individual looks more aged than normal.
12.
What Can Be Done to Stop Night-time Overthinking?
Night-time overthinking can lead to inefficient sleep with increased bedtime:
- Distract from meaningless thoughts.
- Do not try to stay awake.
- Stop thinking about sleep (thinking about sleep is counterproductive to falling asleep).
- Get out of bed and write down the running thoughts.
- Deep breathing while lying down in bed
13.
What Can Be Done to Get Deep Sleep?
To get good deep sleep, one must:
- Work out daily.
- Eat a fibrous diet.
- Mediation.
- Avoid caffeine for 7 hours before bed.
- Avoid night drinking.
- Create a relaxing bedtime routine.
- Create a good sleeping environment.
14.
For How Many Hours Can Someone Survive Without Sleep?
It is not clear how long a human can survive without falling asleep. The longest recorded time is around 265 hours which is just over 11 days. Without sleep, hallucination sets in by the third or fourth night.
15.
What Can Be Done Naturally for a Better Night’s Sleep?
Medications are not always necessary to induce sleep; some of the natural ways to regularly get good amount of sleep are:
- Stick to a consistent sleep schedule.
- Dietary control.
- Create a restful environment.
- Limit daytime naps.
- Physical activities.
- Stress management.
Last reviewed at:
29 Sep 2022 - 3 min read
RATING
Nutritionist
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