The importance of sleep for your health

We’ve been through a tough few months of modifying our lives into the new lifestyle influenced by COVID-19. Fair assumption, our body clocks & sleep patterns are a bit upside down.

 Sleep deficiency is a condition that occurs if you don’t get enough sleep.

It occurs if you have one or more of the following:

• You don’t get enough sleep
• You sleep at the wrong time of day (being out of sync with your body’s natural clock)
• You don’t get enough good quality sleep and/or you don’t go through that sleep cycles that your body needs
• You have a sleep disorder that prevents you from getting enough hours or interferes with the quality of sleep you are getting

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough good quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.

Sleep plays an important role in your physical health. For example, this is the time that our bodies heal and repair our heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Sleep deficiency also increases the risk of obesity.

Sleep often is the first thing that busy people squeeze out of their schedules. Making time to sleep will help you protect your health and well-being now and in the future.

To improve your sleep habits and ultimately your overall health, it may help to:

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. For children, have a set bedtime and a bedtime routine. Don’t use the child’s bedroom for timeouts or punishment.
• Try to keep the same sleep schedule on weeknights and weekends. Limit the difference to no more than about an hour. Staying up late and sleeping in late on weekends can disrupt your body clock’s sleep–wake rhythm.
• Use the hour before bed for quiet time. Avoid strenuous exercise and bright artificial light, such as from a TV or computer screen. The light may signal the brain that it’s time to be awake.
• Avoid heavy and/or large meals within a couple hours of bedtime. (Having a light snack is okay.) Also, avoid alcoholic drinks before bed.
• Avoid nicotine (for example, cigarettes) and caffeine (including caffeinated soda, coffee, tea, and chocolate). Nicotine and caffeine are stimulants, and both substances can interfere with sleep. The effects of caffeine can last as long as 8 hours. So, a cup of coffee in the late afternoon can make it hard for you to fall asleep at night.
• Spend time outside every day (when possible) and be physically active.
• Keep your bedroom quiet, cool, and dark (a dim night light is fine, if needed).
• Take a hot bath or use relaxation techniques before bed.

Napping during the day may provide a boost in alertness and performance. However, if you have trouble falling asleep at night, limit naps or take them earlier in the afternoon. Adults should nap for no more than 20 minutes.

Contact us on admin@mdheath.com.au or call us on 03 9857 0644 or 03 9842 6696 to book your next appointment or book online here.