Are You Getting The Right Amount Of Sleep?


Photo source: BBC.com

Sleep! Getting the right amount of sleep is vital in helping us with maintaining our optimal health and well-being. When it comes to our health, sleep is as crucial as doing regular exercise and eating a balanced diet.

 Here are some of the benefits of getting a good night rest.

 1. Improves our concentration, cognition and productivity

A good night rest can help us keep our energy levels up, help to keep our mind from wandering and maintain our attention throughout the day. Not having enough sleep means both our body and brain do not function correctly the next day.

 2. Reduces weight gain risk

There have been numerous studies throughout the years that have linked obesity and poor sleep patterns. Some research has suggested that being sleep-deprived changes the level of hormones that signal hunger and fullness in our body. These can make us more likely to choose unhealthy foods such as food containing high levels of sugar and intend to overeat. Sleep plays a vital role in regulating how our body uses food for energy. Thus getting the right amount of sleep may help in controlling our weight.

3. Helps in lowering the risk of heart disease

A lack of sleep can increase our risk of developing high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. Having high blood pressure is also a significant risk factor for stroke and coronary heart disease.

4. Keeps immune system strong

Having a good night can help keep our immune system fighting fit and keep germs at bay. Sleep gives our body the time it needs to rest and repair, which is one of the reasons we feel tired and want to sleep more when we are unwell. Sleep supports the proteins and cells of our immune system to detect and destroy any foreign invaders our body might come into contact with, like the common cold. Thus, a good night's sleep helps to strengthen our body's immune response, and it is essential to allow ourselves time to rest and recover when we are not feeling well.

5. Supports our mental health

Sleep plays a vital role in looking after our mental health. We are at high risk of developing poor mental health if we are not getting enough sleep.

6. Lower our stress levels

When we are feeling stressed, our body releases' stress hormones', for example, cortisol, which can keep us awake, a good night's sleep can have the opposite effect and relax the systems in our body that are responsible for this stress response.

 Struggle with falling asleep or not getting enough sleep at night? Here are some apps that can help.

 Calm

Calm is an app for meditation and sleep. It aims to lower stress, anxiety, and gives more restful sleep through their guided meditations, Sleep Stories, breathing programs, masterclasses, and relaxing music. The calm app is perfect for mindfulness for beginners, intermediate and advanced users with hundreds of program available to users. App available on Apple and Android - Free with optional in-app purchases

Sleep Cycle

This app monitors sleep patterns and offer detailed statistics and daily sleep graphs for users to get a better understanding of their sleeping habits. This app also includes an intelligent alarm clock designed to gently wake users up when they are in the lightest sleep phase - the time when users did wake feeling most rested. App available on Apple and Android - Free with optional in-app purchases

 Sleepa

Sleep app contains a great collection of high-definition sounds that can be mix into relaxing ambiences with a timer created to stop the app automatically. This app also includes improved in-app alarm clock feature, which gives users the capability to create gentle alarm notifications. Users have 32 sounds in four groups to choose from - rain, nature, city, and meditation, including other three kinds of white noise, and the lesser-known pink and brown noise frequencies. Sleepa app is only available on Android - Free with optional in-app purchases.

 Pzizz

Pzizz app helps users quickly to calm their mind, fall asleep fast, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed. Pzizz uses "dreamscapes" a mix of music, voiceovers and sound effects created to help users sleep better at night or take power naps during the day. App available on Apple and Android - Free with optional in-app purchases

 White Noise Lite

The White Noise Lite app allows users to build their own combination of sounds. Users can even record and loop their own original sounds to play later on the app when they need that exact sound to help soothe their insomnia. App available on Apple and Android - Free with optional in-app purchases

  Pillow

This app analyses users sleep cycles automatically through their Apple Watch or users can keep their phone nearby when they sleep. Pillow app features include a smart alarm clock to wake users during the lightest sleep stage, tracking sleep trend, sleep aid sounds, and personalised insights and tips for better quality rest. Pillow app is only available on Apple - Free with optional in-app purchases.

 Slumber

This app contains a collection of sleep-inducing stories and meditations created to help users beat insomnia so they can fall asleep swiftly. The slumber episodes put users into a state of deep calm, making it easy to drift off. They can also adjust the nature sounds and background effects to create the perfect ambience for restful sleep all night long. Slumber app is only available on Apple - Free with optional in-app purchase.

 

Remember, Thomas Dekker once said 'Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together'.

'A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book'. - Irish Proverb

 

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