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By John Broetje | Mattresses, Sleep | Jul 1, 2023
Is your sleep schedule leaving you with a mere five to six hours of rest each night? If so, you’re part of the vast majority of individuals who are unknowingly depriving themselves of necessary sleep.
Research has revealed that the optimal sleep duration for most individuals is around seven to eight hours. Failure to meet this recommended sleep quota consistently can jeopardize your health and potentially reduce your lifespan. Inadequate sleep, spanning from infancy to old age, can significantly impact memory, learning, creativity, productivity, emotional balance, and physical health.
Renowned sleep experts from esteemed institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic have noted that inadequate sleep adversely affects numerous bodily functions. These include vital organ systems such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys, as well as appetite control, metabolism, weight management, immune function, disease resistance, pain sensitivity, reaction times, mood, and brain function.
The extensive damage caused by chronic sleep deprivation shouldn’t come as a surprise. “Sleep affects almost every tissue in our bodies,” warns Dr. Michael J. Twery, a sleep specialist at the National Institutes of Health.
A variety of studies have established a direct link between inadequate sleep and weight gain. Sleep deprivation affects the balance of hunger-regulating hormones, leptin and ghrelin, which can lead to overeating. The metabolism also slows down when sleep and circadian rhythms are disrupted, possibly resulting in significant weight gain over time.
A study of 1,240 people by researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found an increased risk of potentially cancerous colorectal polyps in those who slept fewer than six hours nightly.
Sleep deprivation also disrupts the body’s ability to process glucose, increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases and stroke risks escalate in individuals who sleep less than six hours a night. Even a single night of poor sleep can result in daylong blood pressure spikes in individuals with hypertension. It’s also associated with calcification of coronary arteries and heightened levels of inflammatory factors linked to heart disease.
Emerging research suggests that a lack of sufficient sleep can also increase cancer risks. Studies conducted in Japan and by Harvard Medical School found a link between low melatonin levels and an increased risk of breast cancer.
The impact of inadequate sleep is particularly pronounced in the elderly. A federally funded five-year study led by Timothy H. Monk, Director of the Human Chronobiology Research Program at Western Psychiatric, is currently investigating the relationship between sleep, circadian rhythms, stress reactivity, brain function, and genetics in elderly individuals.
Monk’s research findings indicate that behavioral treatments for insomnia, such as maintaining regular sleep schedules, avoiding late-day naps and caffeine, and reducing distractions from light, noise, and pets, can prove beneficial.
Inadequate sleep can also interfere with children’s hormonal balance. Growth hormone, crucial for children’s growth and adult cell and tissue repair, is released during deep sleep. Misdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children has been linked to insufficient sleep by Dr. Vatsal G. Thakkar, an affiliate psychiatrist at New York University.
One of the most subtly damaging impacts of insufficient sleep relates to mental processes such as learning, memory, judgment, and problem-solving. Adequate sleep is essential for the encoding of new learning and memory pathways in the brain. Well-rested individuals demonstrate superior learning capabilities and retention. Moreover, chronic sleep deprivation could partially explain the cognitive decline often observed with aging.
Sleep-deprived individuals often exhibit slower thinking, difficulty focusing, and a higher tendency to make poor decisions and take unwarranted risks. These effects are particularly dangerous when operating vehicles or heavy machinery.
Insufficient sleep is a risk factor for depression and substance abuse, particularly among individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those with PTSD often experience trauma-related disturbances during sleep, preventing their brains from achieving a relaxed state and maintaining a heightened state of alertness.
At your next health checkup, be sure to discuss your sleep habits, including duration and quality. Remember, your sleep health is just as important as your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Adequate sleep is a cornerstone of overall health and wellness. Explore a wide range of high-quality mattresses at Mattress Depot and choose the perfect one for a restful night’s sleep. Visit our website at www.mattressdepotusa.com to find the mattress that suits your needs and start prioritizing your sleep today.
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