Maximizing Sleep for Maximized Results
Is Your Sleep Preventing Your Progress?
We all know that we can’t survive without food or water, but did you know that poor sleep quality can also result in serious health issues?
To start, let’s go over what good sleep looks like. 6-10 hours of sleep a night, with at least 3 hours of that spent in REM/deep sleep. This is when our brains process all of the information from the day and commit the important events to memory. Our bodies also get much needed recovery from the day. Whether it’s from working out, playing with the kids, running errands, or putting out fires at work.
When we don’t meet the basic sleep needs, our bodies and brains start to pay the price. Sleep deprivation can lead to a range of physical, mental, and emotional issues. Here are some examples:
Cognitive Impairment: Lack of sleep affects attention, vigilance, and decision-making skills. Individuals may experience difficulty concentrating, decreased problem-solving abilities, and impaired memory.
Mood Changes: Sleep deprivation can lead to irritability, increased stress, and mood swings. It may also exacerbate anxiety and depression symptoms.
Physical Health Problems: Chronic insufficient sleep is linked to various health issues, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and weakened immune function. High blood pressure (hypertension) can be an indication that your sleep quality is not what it should be.
Reduced Reaction Time: Lack of sleep can slow response times, making tasks such as driving or operating machinery more dangerous.
Altered Hormone Levels: Sleep regulates hormones that control appetite, stress, and growth. Sleep deprivation can lead to increased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and changes in appetite-related hormones, contributing to weight gain. This is why sleep is so vital to both muscle gain and fat loss.
Increased Risk of Accidents: Fatigue significantly increases the likelihood of accidents, both at home and in the workplace, due to impaired judgment and slower reflexes.
Hallucinations and Psychosis: In severe cases, prolonged lack of sleep can result in visual or auditory hallucinations, and in extreme cases, can trigger psychotic episodes.
Decreased Immune Function: Sleep is essential for the immune system to function optimally. Chronic sleep deprivation can impair immune responses, making individuals more susceptible to infections.
Increased Inflammatory Responses: Sleep deprivation can lead to increased inflammation in the body, which is associated with numerous chronic health conditions.
Long-term Health Effects: Persistent sleep deprivation may contribute to long-term health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Addressing sleep deprivation is crucial for overall health, well-being, and quality of life.
Take our sleep survey here to make sure your brain and body are staying healthy and getting the rest they need!