Most people know that sleep is important to their health and wellbeing, but few get enough sleep to be fully rested and rejuvenated. Many factors can contribute to a lack of sleep, and our busy schedules often compete for those precious hours of restoring sleep. Knowing just how important sleep is for your health can help you move toward making this a priority in your life. Tucked In wants to help you in your quest for more, and better, sleep with our organic mattresses that perfectly fit your sleep style and preferences. Don’t let an uncomfortable bed be what stands in the way of you and your sleep! A great night’s sleep is something to make a priority; don’t neglect this crucial aspect of your health any longer!
The Obvious
Everyone knows how they feel after not getting enough sleep, and it’s not good. Feeling overly tired can put you in a bad mood, interfere with your ability to focus, and make everyday activities such as driving miserable (and potentially dangerous). You may have dark circles under your eyes, and your skin may show the effects of your sleepiness as well. The day after a bad night of sleep is never a fun one, but the long term effects may of sleep deprivation may be much more serious.
Depression
If you feel cranky or blue after a night of lost sleep, imagine what a long term pattern of sleep loss can do to your mood. Chronic sleep loss has been linked to depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Studies have shown that sleep loss produces a lack of sociability and an increase in sadness and anger. When sleep was restored, patients reported a significant improvement in these symptoms. If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, sleeping more can be an relatively easy step to take to improve your overall mood.
Diabetes
Diabetes and sleep problems go hand in hand, and the problems can go both ways. Blood sugar that is out of control can lead to sleeplessness at night. There is also evidence that not sleeping can lead to a pre-diabetic state. The bottom line is that sleep can help, either prevent or manage the symptoms of diabetes. People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to turn to food to give them a boost of energy; this can have a bad effect on blood sugar levels. Glucose is processed more slowly when not enough sleep is had, and this can lead to high blood sugar levels. Getting enough sleep can help regulate blood sugar levels, and regulated blood sugar levels in turn help with getting enough sleep.
Obesity
Another effect of unregulated blood sugar levels is weight gain. Studies have shown that people who get less sleep tend to be heavier, and being overweight can be a contributing factor in many other health issues. Continually getting less than six hours of sleep a night have, on average, a higher body mass index (BMI). During sleep, hormones are secreted that control appetite, energy metabolism and glucose processing; this is disrupted when enough sleep is not obtained. The hormones that process glucose and signal the brain that it has had enough food are also affected, and may result in food cravings and overeating. Although it is not intuitive, sleeping more may lead to less calories consumed during the day and less weight gain.
Immune Function
When we are sick, we usually head to our beds, sometimes not willingly, because our bodies need to rest to be able to heal and fight infection. People who routinely don’t get enough sleep are more prone to getting sick after being exposed to viruses, and also have longer periods of recovery. Your body uses sleep to release proteins necessary for immune function, and chronic sleep loss can lead to reduced immune function. Keep your immune system healthy and strong with enough sleep!
Life Expectancy
With all of the negative effects of sleep deprivation, it should come as no surprise that sleep loss is also linked to a lower life expectancy. Across all conditions, sleep loss is linked to increased mortality risk. Making sure you are getting the right amount of sleep can go a long way in living a long and full life.
Ergovea can help, with our organic mattresses that are fitted to your individual sleep needs. Make your bed a haven of rest and rejuvenation, and start seeing the health benefits of more sleep!