The importance of getting a good night’s sleep is directly related to the benefits of a good night’s sleep, both physiologically and psychologically, inadequate rest can have serious consequences for our body and brain.
Sleeping is also necessary such as eating healthy or exercising regularly, it is a fundamental biological function for our body and we must also take into account that we spend a third of our lives sleeping.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that you sleep about 8 hours a night to complete our full sleep cycle; However.
- This number of hours is a statistical average.
- As some people need to sleep more to feel rested.
- While others fully recover with fewer hours of sleep.
“We are made of the same material as dreams, and our little life ends up sleeping. “W. Shakespeare?
Sleep, such as hunger, sexual behavior and intellectual performance, is regulated by our biological clock, located in the hypothalamus, which when this watch is activated begins to secrete melatonin, the hormone that prepares the body to trigger the sleep phase.
This way, if we get enough sleep and sleep is restful, there are many health benefits. Now, if we radically change our routines, we will most likely suffer from fatigue, stress and moodiness.
Lack of sleep has a negative effect on our mood, if we do not rest enough we will feel stressed, apathetic and mentally exhausted, we can even feel sad and unable to perform our tasks.
As soon as we resume the sleep routine, our energy is replenished, improving our mood: we will feel calm, happy and with the initiative to start the day well.
Deep sleep helps better retain information and promotes mnemonic ability. A study published in Psychological Science indicates that sleeping well helps maintain long-term information.
On the other hand, if sleep is light or interrupted all night, our ability to consolidate memories decreases, because while we sleep, our brain works and organizes what is treated during the day.
Sleep repairs and tones our skin. If we rest the right times, we will reduce the likelihood of having bags under the eyes and dark circles and our overall appearance will improve.
Our immune system uses sleep time to regenerate, allowing it to effectively combat the toxins and germs that threaten us. With a weak immune system, we are less likely to overcome infections.
The production of melanin and serotonin occurs during sleep, these hormones neutralize the effects of stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) and help us feel happier and stronger emotionally.
There are factors that can intentionally alter sleep, such as our eating habits, but there are also other kinds of involuntary factors, over which we have no control, such as genetics and age, that influence the quality of our sleep. some below.
Sleep patterns begin to change with age. As we get older, we find it harder to fall asleep and wake up more often at night.
The transition from sleep to awakening is accentuated over the years, which facilitates the phases of deep sleep.
Studies on the inheritance of certain sleep patterns demonstrate an important genetic factor: sleep latency or the time that elapses from falling asleep to falling asleep and sleep disorders are generally similar to those of our parents.
Human beings are governed by 24-hour circadian rhythms, in which we distribute stages of concentration, leisure and rest; respecting these rhythms increases our quality of life, since we dedicate time to every need.
The COW (Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput) protein regulates these circadian rhythms that control, among other things, the hormones involved in the sleep process, changing this protein has an immediate negative effect on insomnia, fatigue or the famous jet lag.
A proper and balanced diet will facilitate rest and contribute to better sleep quality.
Digestion is much slower during sleep, so sleeping immediately after a meal disrupts sleep and can cause stomach problems and insomnia.
Noise reduces sleep quality. Our body, although we remain asleep, is attentive to what is happening around us, if we cannot control it, there is always the possibility of using earplugs.
Now that we know the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep and some of the factors involved, we should remember some tips for quality sleep:
“For awake men, there is only one world common to all, but everyone who sleeps is immersed in their own world. “Heraclitus?