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Why is sleep important? “While we don’t know exactly why sleep is necessary, there are some things we do know about it,” say Stephen Perkins, M.D., medical director at BCBSVT and Frank Provato, M.D., chief medical officer at TVHP. “While we’re sleeping, our metabolism and body temperature drop to their lowest point. This means that the body uses much less energy during sleep than it does while we are awake. While we are sleeping, our bodies may restore energy lost during the day, and perform necessary maintenance functions.” How much is enough? “The proper amount of sleep varies from person to person,” Perkins and Provato explain. “In general, a person needs eight hours of sleep each night to maintain health and alertness. Some people may need as many as ten hours, while others may only need seven or fewer hours of sleep.”One interesting example of variations in sleep needs can be seen in Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, both great inventors and thinkers. Edison felt that sleep was a waste of time and only took naps during the day. Einstein, on the other hand, slept ten hours a day. Effects of lack of sleep “Sleep is important to our general good health,” Perkins and Provato state. “Lack of sleep can compromise the immune system, making us more likely to succumb to one of the myriad viruses with which we come into contact daily.” Lack of sleep can have many effects on day-to-day activity. Fatigue during the day and lack of ability to concentrate can be indicative of lack of sleep. If you often fall asleep while sedentary (reading, resting, watching the television, or driving), you may not be getting enough sleep or you may have a sleep disorder. “Even losing some sleep on one night can have adverse effects on mood, memory, concentration, and decision-making capabilities,” Perkins and Provato explain. “It can even increase a person’s sensitivity to pain. “Chronic sleep loss can cause even more problems. Feelings of depression and anxiety are more apt to surface when a person has had too little sleep. The effects of sleep loss are cumulative, so getting too little sleep on a Monday night, without making up that sleep, can cause sleep-loss symptoms for the whole week.” Not only can lack of sleep affect you as an individual; businesses also feel the effects of lack of sleep. The U.S. National Center for Sleep Disorders estimates that “$150 billion a year in higher stress and reduced workplace productivity” occurs as the result of lack of sleep. Over-tired people can also cause serious accidents to occur. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 200,000 sleep-related driving accidents occur yearly. If sleep is so vital, how can you ensure proper sleep? “First and perhaps most importantly, try to maintain a regular sleep schedule,” Perkins and Provato suggest. “Sleeping in the same place at the same times can help to form a routine. Use your bed only for sleep. If you do many daytime things in your bed (watch TV, read, eat, listen to music) your body might not associate your bed with sleep, making it more difficult to get to sleep.” “Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed. While caffeine might be an obvious thing to avoid, alcohol will also adversely affect your sleep. It may help you fall asleep, but it may also prevent a person you from getting good sleep,” they note. “Most importantly, get enough sleep. If you wake up to your alarm clock in the morning and are still very tired, try going to bed earlier so that you wake up refreshed.” Sleep Disorders There are many factors that can get in the way of getting a good night’s sleep. Some of them are under our control, but some people have disorders which prevent them from getting the proper amount of sleep, including:
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