Did you know that sleep issues affect people of all ages? According to a sleep foundation survey that was conducted in 2023, 50-70 million U.S. adults suffer from a sleep issue or a sleep disorder. According to the CDC, sleep health in the development and management of chronic diseases has grown. Notably, insufficient sleep has been linked to the development and management of a number of chronic diseases and conditions, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.
A good night's sleep can make you feel energized in the mind and body, but it also supports important functions such as memories, learning, and emotional regulation. In this blog post, we will discuss how sleep can affect health and discuss some tips on how you can improve your sleep.
Obesity:
Research has found that short sleep duration results in metabolic changes that may be linked to obesity. It is believed that sleep is exceptionally important for brain development in early adolescence. Insufficient sleep may negatively affect the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is known for regulating appetite and the expenditure of energy. If sleep is disturbed in early adolescence, excess body weight may be linked to sleep disturbances.
Diabetes:
Research has found that insufficient sleep has been linked with the relationship to type two diabetes. Specifically, sleep duration and sleep quality. If sleep duration and quality are poor, then the body has a harder time regulating and controlling blood sugar. Recent research suggests that optimizing sleep duration and improving the quality of sleep is an important means of improving blood sugar control in people with type two diabetes.
Cardiovascular Disease:
People with sleep apnea have been found to be at increased risk for a number of cardiovascular diseases. Notably, stroke, irregular heartbeats, and hypertension have been linked to those who suffer from sleep abnormalities. In addition, sleep apnea has been linked to hardening of the arteries (known as atherosclerosis) further suggesting that sleep apnea may be an important predictor of cardiovascular disease.
Depression:
The relationship between sleep and depression is complex. Those with mental health disorders are more likely to experience chronic sleep problems. Sleep deprivation studies have shown that healthy people who experience poor sleep are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders. It is now recognized that sleep problems can contribute to the onset of developing and worsening different mental health problems.
Now that we have reviewed how poor sleep can negatively affect the body, let's look at some tips on how to improve the quality of your sleep.
Create a Bedtime Routine:
Just like babies and toddlers, adults thrive from having a consistent bedtime routine. Having a bedtime routine means that you consistently perform the same activities every night before you wind down for bedtime. This will signal your body that it is almost time to rest for the night. Some examples of bedtime routines include: Taking a shower, doing your skincare routine, sipping on a warm glass of tea, and brushing your teeth.
Make Sure That Your Bedroom is Comfortable:
Ideally, your bedroom should be a cool, dark place where there are no loud noises that can keep you from falling asleep. If there is any light coming into your bedroom, it might be a good idea to invest in purchasing some blackout curtains. You can also use a sound machine to play some white noise and drown out any other sounds that are keeping you from sleeping.
Avoid Blue Light Before Bedtime:
Blue light from your phone, TV, or laptop can stimulate your brain and prevent the relaxation needed for your brain to sleep. It is recommended that you stop using electronics at least one hour before bedtime.
Be Consistent:
Try to wake up and go to bed at the same time each day, even on days off. It is natural to stay up later than usual on some occasions, just try to get back on track as soon as you can. In addition, try to avoid using your bed as a place to eat, watch TV, or be on your laptop. This is so that your body does not associate your bed with that specific activity, but rather, with rest.
Unwind With Sol Nutrition:
Falling asleep has never been easier with the help of this herbal remedy. Unlike other sleep or melatonin pills that can leave you feeling groggy and disrupt your sleep cycle, Sleep Deeply takes a different approach. This supplement supports your body's natural production and regulation of melatonin while helping you achieve a balanced sleep cycle without all of the unwanted side effects. With Sleep Deeply, you can say goodbye to feeling drowsy and oversleeping. This unique herbal supplement allows you to sleep and rest when you need to, without interfering with your daily routine.
Takeaway:
Experiencing difficulties with sleep can be very frustrating for many people. By paying attention to your sleep, you can make adjustments to your sleep routine to set yourself up for the best rest possible. Remember that sleep is different for everyone, what works for some, may not work for others. Try experimenting with these tips, discover what works for you, and hold onto it.
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