Healthy Mind & Body = Healthy Sleep
Added Monday, October 8th, 2007 at 5:30 am | View Comments
We all know that we need to do more exercise and have a healthier diet to improve the quality of our lives. But the often-maligned ‘third piece’ of the healthy lifestyle puzzle is good sleep.
Complete Your Healthy Lifestyle
Although scientists are confident that healthy sleep helps to rejuvenate the body and mind, the exact ‘mechanics’ of how sleep works are still a mystery to even the most revered of sleep experts. One thing that the specialists agree on is that uninterrupted, healthy sleep is necessary to keep your body and mind in tip top condition. Amongst its many benefits, sleep helps with memory and brain functions, meaning good sleep is essential if you have to take a test or learn a new skill. It also has an affect on your hormones which could lead to weight gain if you are not sleeping properly. Our Sleep & Obesity article provides more information on this.
How is Sleep Good For Me?
Millions of people around the world suffer from sleep apnoea, a disorder that can cause breathing problems during sleep. Despite lots of people suffering from the condition, many do not even know they have it!
Sleep apnoea is linked to obesity, as excess weight leads to a reduced respiratory function and more strain on the lungs. The condition can lead to a variety of health problems, from serious complaints such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure – through to excessive daytime sleepiness and drowsiness.
People who suffer from sleep apnoea and other sleeping disorders are often caught in a vicious cycle – as they may find it more difficult to exercise and practice healthy eating habits, due to daytime weariness, fatigue and lower energy levels. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, your first port of call should be your GP – as solutions to the problem may differ from person to person.
Scientists in Chicago, USA, found that if sleep is restricted to 4 hours per night for a week, some of those studied (all healthy young adults) found that their glucose and insulin levels were similar to that of diabetics.
Exercise Can Give Your Sleep a Lift
Timing your exercise is nearly as important as doing the actual physical activity itself, especially if you do little or no activity currently. Exercise is good for your body and health, and a workout can make you more alert, speed up your metabolism and raise your energy levels, but exercising too close to your bedtime can lead to poor sleep. This is linked to your body temperature – exercise can raise it fairly quickly, but it can take up to 6 hours to return to normal. Experts believe that early morning exercise is your best bet, setting you up for the day and giving you every chance of having sound sleep that night.
Cut Down on the Caffeine
Caffeine is one of the key culprits in people’s diets that can affect sleep. Again, you may find yourself in a vicious-cycle scenario – the more tired you are, the more coffee/coke/energy drink you’ll consume to stay alert. But the more you drink, the harder you’ll find it to fall asleep. As caffeine products generally tend to have high sugar content, you are also at risk of putting on more weight the more you consume.
Your appetite can also be affect by your sleep. As mentioned previously, your hormone levels can change during sleep (or more specifically, lack of sleep). In particular a hormone called leptin, which regulates your appetite can fall during restless periods. This can lead to an increase appetite. Psychologically, some people are more likely to head to the fridge if they are sleepy, fatigued or suffering from insomnia, rather than heading to bed.
Read more medical articles from bedstar on how to get a healthier nights rest.
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