"A good laugh and a good sleep are the best cures in the doctor's books" this simply shows how important "Sleep" is to a man. According to Wikipedia, Sleep is defined as 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 (REM) sleep, and reduced interactions with surroundings. It is distinguished from wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, but more reactive than a coma or disorders of consciousness, with sleep displaying different, active brain patterns.
Sleep is so important to human beings that when we deprive our bodies of a good sleep, it affects the brain and the whole system. The importance of sleep cannot be overemphasized. There are hours of sleep required by each age group, when we reach some certain stages in life, we must ensure we have enough sleep. According to research conducted by The National Sleep Foundation in 2015, they showed us the hours of sleep needed by each age group:
• TODDLERS need at least 11 to 14 hours of sleep everyday
• CHILDREN need at least 9 to 11 hours of sleep everyday
• TEENAGERS need at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep everyday
• ADULTS need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep everyday
• AGED PEOPLE need at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep everyday
BENEFITS OF GETTING ADE
QUATE SLEEP
When people deprived themselves of adequate sleep, they expose themselves in developing diseases and these are the benefits of having adequate sleep everyday
• Sleep helps in reducing Stress
Inadequate sleep puts the body in a state of stress. When there's no adequate sleep, the body's functions are put on high alert which might result into production of stress hormones which might make it hard to fall asleep and stress can make you react in ways that aren't productive, you may act out of fear or make rash decisions or you may be anxious and irritable also causes high blood pressure which can as result increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.
• Sleep helps in reducing inflammation
Inadequate good night sleep results in stress hormones and this increases inflammation in the body system. Inflammation increases the risk of many health conditions like
• Ulcer
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Dementia e.t.c.
• Sleep helps in keeping heart healthy
During sleep, the body releases some hormones which help in keeping the blood vessels and the heart healthy. Lack of adequate sleep can affect cholesterol and blood pressure, which are risk factors for stroke and heart disease. Lack of adequate sleep deprives the body the hormones that are produced during sleep . Sleep is associated with blood vessels and it helps in regulating it.
• Sleep makes the body repair itself
During deep sleep, the body starts repairing itself by repairing damages caused by stress, ultraviolet rays and other harmful things or substances the body system has been exposed to. During deep sleep, the body cells produce protein,and these protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, which makes it possible for them to repair the body. So it is obvious that lack of sleep puts the whole body at risk because the body won't be able to repair itself.
• Sleep helps in regulating blood sugar level in the body
One of the functions of sleep is regulating the metabolism in the body and in this way the body converts food to energy. When there is a lack of sleep, there will certainly be a problem with metabolism and this may result in fluctuation of blood sugar levels. Which can increase the risk of
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Mental Function
• Mood Swing
• Energy Level
• Sleep improves the memory
Sleep helps in what we call "Memory Consolidation". Even though during sleep, the body is resting, the brain is not. It is busy processing your memories, feelings and sensory input. It is believed that students need more sleep before examination because it helps in recollecting all that have been read, because good sleep helps the brain in processing things and linking memories.
• Sleep helps in staying active
To increase your daily energy level, it is expedient to have a good night sleep because it makes you feel energized and alert the next day. To be active and stay refreshed, one must ensure he or she is having a good night's rest.
RESULTS OF LACK OF SLEEP
It is obvious human beings are not sleeping the way nature intended. Good balanced diet and exercise are not the things necessary for healthy living but the combination of all the three are needed for an active and healthy life. It is essential we make "Sleep a priority".
When people deprived their body a good night rest, it causes
• Impaired Memory
Lack of adequate sleep can affect one's memory, making it hard to think, recollect and process information. During sleep, the brain works in repairing the whole body but when the body is deprived of good sleep, it tends not to do what it is supposed to do and this puts the whole system at high risk. Lack of sleep impairs attention, alertness, concentration, reasoning, and problem solving. This makes it more difficult to learn efficiently.
• It can cause accidents
Lack of good sleep can cause great hazard to the safety of the general public. Sleepiness, as a result of deprivation of the body, good sound sleep can cause accidents.
Drowsiness when driving is the same as drunk driving because both will cause the same harm. Poor-quality sleep also lead to accidents and injuries on the worker's side, more work accidents occur due to sleepiness according to studies.
• It kills sex drive
According to studies and specialists, there is lower libido and interest in sex in those who are deprived of good sleep compares to those who have adequate sleep. This might be as a result that sleepiness causes depleted energy and this can increase tension during sex and loss of interest in sex.
• It makes the body aged fast
It is obvious that after having days without a good sleep, the person will experience puffy eyes and sallow skin. And when lack of sleep becomes a habit, the body starts having a lackluster look and dark circles start showing around the eyes. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
• Lack of sleep causes depression
Lack of sleep or sleep disorders can contribute to the symptoms of depression. The most common sleep disorder, insomnia, has the strongest link to depression. Lack of sleep increases symptoms of depression, while depression can also make it hard for someone to sleep, which means both compliment each other. So, treating sleep disorders might directly be a way of treating depression.
SLEEP DISORDERS
According to Wikipedia, a sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of an individual's sleep patterns. Some sleep disorders are severe enough to interfere with normal physical, mental, social and emotional functioning.
The most common sleep disorder is INSOMNIA and while others are sleepwalking, sleep apnea, narcolepsy and hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness at inappropriate times), sleeping sickness (disruption of sleep cycle due to infection), and night terrors.
INSOMNIA is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty:
i. Falling asleep initially.
ii. Waking up during the night.
iii. Waking earlier than desired.
There are many reasons that contribute to insomnia which are:
a. Life stressors including your job, relationships, financial difficulties and more.
b. Unhealthy lifestyle and sleep habits.
c. Anxiety disorders, depression and/or other mental health problems.
d. Chronic diseases like cancer.
e. Chronic pain due to arthritis, fibromyalgia or other conditions.
f. Gastrointestinal disorders, such as heartburn.
g. Hormone fluctuations due to menstruation, menopause, thyroid disease or other issues.
h. Medications and other substances.
i. Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.
j. Other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.
INSOMNIA can result into :
i. Memory loss
ii. Depression
iii. Fatigue
iv. Struggling at work or school
HOW CAN SLEEP DISORDERS BE TREATED
1. Change your lifestyle
One of the very first things to do is to change the way you live your life and this comes down even to the things that you take. Avoid coffee or anything that has stimulants like caffeine or nicotine which can keep you from falling asleep and if there is going to be a need to take them, it should be during the day when you are active. Also, engaging in exercise daily can also be of help, the more vigorously you exercise, the more powerful the sleep benefits.
2. MEDICATION
Following a doctor's prescription is very important because sometimes sleep disorders have genetic causes, and a professional doctor will be able to solve this kind of problem. Sleeping pills that work for individuals can be taken to increase the quality hours of sleep.
Sleep is the best meditation, to have a stable mental health and live a healthy life, a good sleep is necessary everyday.