I was amazed recently after reading a newspaper report stating the reasons why we all need a good night’s sleep
A Good Nights Sleep
and why, unfortunately, this is evading us. It stated that in the UK alone as many as 33% of its citizens suffer one sort of sleep disorder or another and a staggering 80% of the people feel they are not getting sufficient sleep. These figures come from a report for The Mental Health Foundation and we can only assume that the figures are similar in the USA. The implications for sleep deprivation are many and recent research from Stanford University confirms that disturbed sleep can also be responsible for lapses in memory.
Other reasons why we all need a good night’s sleep go beyond just feeling tired out. The lack of a restful nights sleep can make us very irritable and bad tempered which has a knock on effects for those around us who have to take the brunt of it. Other physical effects include:
Weight Gain and lack of sleep
Did you know that research studies also intimate that insomnia could be a reason why some people find it difficult to lose weight and it suggests that insufficient sleep might have an affect on their appetite hormones, leading them to eat more of the wrong types of foods, ultimately resulting in obesity? As well as possible weight gain, it is thought that a lack of sleep could also be linked to diabetes.
Anxiety and Depression
From my own experience, I know that a few nights of disrupted sleep can lead to vicious circle of laying in bed awake worrying about not falling asleep and of course, the more you worry the more you lay there wide awake and so it goes on. A prolonged lack f sleep can also result in a more serious bout of depression and if this is the case then it needs to be investigated by a doctor.
Danger of Tiredness
Tiredness not only causes a lack of concentration trying to complete every day tasks, it can also be responsible for accidents, some serious. We have probably all experienced that awful feeling of drowsiness whilst driving and struggling to keep our eyes open and knowing we still have many miles to go yet so it’s important to remember that a high percentage of road accidents are caused by drowsy drivers. Don’t ignore the road signs warning against tiredness, pull over and rest, it could save your life.
Heart disease and cancer risk
Even more reasons why we all need a good nights sleep is because of a heightened risk of heart disease and cancer. Regarding heart disease, recent research from the UK University of Warwick has found that the link is stronger in women. It suggests that sleep deprivation can increase inflammation, which can then result in damage to the arteries and getting plenty of sleep is known to lower blood pressure. An American study also found that there was an increased risk of cancer in women who have fewer than seven hours of sleep a night over a period of time. In addition, people who work regular unsocial hours tend to suffer difficulties staying awake at night and then they find it difficult to get sufficient sleep during the daytime. This could lead to an increased chance of developing this disease and Prof Foster said, “It may be because the immune system response is dampened by the body’s continual attempts to override its natural sleep/wake cycle”
A tip for a good nights sleep
There are many things you can do to get off to sleep and one of the best tips I can suggest is from my own experience of insomnia. Whenever I had trouble dropping off to sleep I would always get up and read a book. I always selected an educational subject that was interesting but not too stimulating and before long, I would start struggling to keep my eyes open and start yawning frequently. These signs indicated that I was now ready for sleep and it nearly always worked for me, so why not try it and you too could get a good nights sleep.
By Rosemary Taylor
Read the UK newspaper report on why we all need more sleep here
