Oversleeping Or Struggling To Sleep? 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Sleep
It is surprising how little people know about sleeping, although it plays a vital role in your body, just like eating a balanced diet and exercising. Since healthy sleep promotes the body’s wellness and illness prevention, it is crucial to get adequate sleep each day. In other words, you should refrain from getting too much or too little sleep. It’s true; sleep can actually make a difference in your daily performance. So, here are some incredible facts about sleep you may probably need to know.
1. Artificial light can affect your Circadian rhythm
Circadian rhythm, also known as the body’s internal clock, is a 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep. This cycle has a strong connection with the light. Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to sleep in a dark room? This is because of the sleep-wake cycle that is highly adapted to patterns of light. When someone is only exposed to natural light, this cycle works efficiently. Melatonin is a hormone that stimulates sleepiness. When your eyes are exposed to the sunlight, they send a message to the brain. Consequently, the melatonin levels in your body drop to avoid sleepiness during the daytime. Also, when the eyes perceive darkness, the melatonin levels automatically rise to make you feel sleepy. However, this process can be altered by artificial lights such as blue lights from digital screens. When your eyes get artificial light at night your brain starts to think it is daytime. So, the melatonin levels drop and make you struggle to fall asleep. As a solution, it is recommended to avoid blue light one hour before going to bed.
2. Lowers the risk of heart disease
Your blood pressure drops during a regular night’s sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your blood pressure stays high for a longer period. High blood pressure is one of the predominant causes of heart disease and strokes. As prolonged disrupted sleep patterns are linked with cardiovascular disorders, which frequently end in early death, it is critical to have the recommended hours of sleep each night.
3. Shorter periods of sleep lead to weight gain
Doing regular exercises and having a balanced diet, but is your body still gaining weight? Well, then this might be the case. Poor sleep has always been related to a higher body mass index (BMI) and obesity. Several studies have indicated that the people who receive less than seven hours of sleep every night are vulnerable to weight gain. According to a study conducted by Markwald et al. (2013), 16 individuals were given only five hours of sleep every night for five nights. Over the period, they gained an average of 1.8 pounds (0.82 kg).
4. Oversleeping increases the risk of death
While sleeping less could result in negative consequences, excessive sleepiness is also considered a sign of several medical problems that causes health risks. Oversleeping can contribute to early mortality. According to a new research, people who sleep for 10 hours are 30% more likely to die early than those who sleep for eight hours. Further, the study says that staying in bed for more than 10 hours can increase the risk of a stroke by 57% and heart diseases nearly by 50%.
5. Sleep strengthens the immune system
Having minimum 8 hours of sleep each night can boost your immune system and aid in the battle against viruses, such as the common cold. The immune function has been demonstrated to be affected by even minor sleep deprivation. Sleep is an ideal time for people to unwind, but it’s also a time to heal your body’s damages caused by stress and other hazards. Thus, getting a good night’s sleep can aid your body’s immunological response, and it gives you time to relax and recuperate when you are not feeling well.
Final thought
A society that values hard work and enthusiasm recommends and even encourages to sleep less than possible. However, depriving oneself of adequate sleep, on the other hand, can affect your performance and even health. So, take the responsibility of your own health.
