Overview
Every human being sleeps. Even animals do sleep. Sleep is a crucial form of rest that is a necessity for every human being. Sleep is an essential component ofhuman health as it allows us to reorganize ourselves. It contributes to better brain health.
Some people tend to overwork themselves and in the process, they eat into time scheduled for sleep.
This is a very unhealthy practice, which has long-term effects when done over long periods of time.
It is recommended that human beings should sleep averagely for 6-8 hours per day. Apart from this, they should ensure they enter and leave the bed at regular times.
Do you know the general importance of sleep in our lives?
Well, in this article, we will learn about;
- Benefits/Importance of good sleep
- How To Maximize Sleep
- Disadvantages of Little and Excess Sleep
Many people sleep because it is part of normal daily human routine. If you ask them about sleep, they may just end up with a five-word sentence as an explanation.
But this should not be the case. Getting good quality and maximum sleep can impact an individual’s life positively.
Benefits/Importance
Here are several benefits of good sleep.
- Improved physical health.
- Enhanced mental clarity.
- Increased energy, which contributes to more productivity.
- Reduced stress and anxiety which lead to emotional wellbeing.
- Enhanced physical activity and performance. During sleep, the body repairs and re-builds muscles, and replenishes energy stores.
- Improved skin appearance and beauty. During repairing and regenerative processes of the body as we sleep, collagen production increases. This contributes to better skin integrity and health.
- Hormonal regulation. In adult women, irregular sleep patterns can affect the menstrual cycle and regulation of hormones, and this can predispose to conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).
How To Maximize Sleep
- Set aside a sleep schedule. Observe it and internalize it, then follow it. Ensure that you spend 6-8 hours of undisturbed sleep, in a quiet environment.
- Do not indulge in over-eating. This can contribute to uneasiness during sleep. Also, do not under-eat as hunger can disrupt a normal sleep cycle.
- Minimize daytime naps so that you will not lack sleep at night.
- Engage in regular physical activities during the day to keep you fit.
- Ensure you manage stresses early so that they do not interrupt with your sleep period.
Disadvantages of Little and Excess Sleep
Demerits of little sleep;
- Sleep deprivation causes people to be involved in accidents. According to studies conducted about sleep loss, it has been shown that poor quality of sleep predisposes to injuries and accidents at the workplace.
- Lack of sleep makes us dumb as it impairs with our ability to reason properly and pay attention. It also makes it difficult to grasp new concepts efficiently, thus interfering with learning capabilities.
- Poor quality sleep can cause serious health conditions such as irregular heart beat, high blood pressure and stroke.
It is estimated that 90 out of 100 people with insomnia- a sleeping disorder- also have another medical problem. - It leads to low libido. Specialists have reported that men and women who are sleep-derived have lower sex drive and little interest sex.
- Lack of sleep causes sleepiness. Sleepiness at the workplace can lead to poor performance.
- Sleepiness makes people forgetful.
- Lack of sleep can make us to have weakened immune systems. During sleeping moments, the body forms cytokines that contribute to a functional immune system. In sleep deprivation, it is white cells that are produced. This leads to an imbalance that weakens the immune system as time goes by.
- Lack of sleep can make us to gain weight. Lacking sufficient sleep seems to be related increases in both appetite and hunger. When uncontrolled, both of these can lead to obesity.
Side effects of over-sleeping;
There is a phrase that goes “Too much of something is poisonous”. For sleep too, excessive sleeping can be harmful.
Oversleeping is linked to health conditions such as;
Summary
In conclusion, good sleep hygiene is a necessity for every living individual.
Good sleep is linked to better general health.
When we sleep well, we are likely to;
- Get sick less often
- Reduce stress
- Stay healthy.
- Think more clearly
- Reduce the risk for serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes