Sleeping well: discover the benefits for our body
We’re always looking for ways to transform our lives, but sometimes we forget that, along with exercise, there’s another miracle drug under our control: sleep. If you have a few days off during the vacations or often rest on weekends, one of the best things you can do with your time is to work on fixing your sleep habits.
This is not a trivial matter. Our sleep problems are so serious that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) refers to them as a “public health epidemic. “a public health epidemic. While a small percentage of the population has no problem or impairment from too little sleep, it is incredibly rare. Nearly half of the population does not get enough sleep: 40% of people sleep less than the recommended 7 to 9 hours per night (adolescents and children need even more sleep). Let’s not go to extremes either. Too much sleep is not good either and has its own health risks; fortunately, only 5% of people sleep more than 9 hours a night.
Sleep makes you feel better, but its importance goes far beyond just boosting your mood or eliminating those pesky bags under your eyes. Getting adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle and can be beneficial for the heart, the mind, our weight… In fact, it is just as important as eating healthy and exercising.
Unfortunately, the Western environment is interfering with natural sleep patterns. We now sleep less than we did in the past, and the quality of sleep has also declined.
Be that as it may, we know that more sleep would improve our lives. ¿De qué forma? Hoy exploramos cómo.
The benefits of a good night’s sleep
Makes you happy
Too little sleep ruins your day. Studies have also shown this to be true. Thus, for example, a remarkable study published in the journal Science followed 909 working women. Getting a poor night’s sleep affected their happiness as much as a deadline to turn in a job and had an even greater impact on mood than significant income differences in the participant group.
Getting a good night’s sleep increases physical endurance
With restful sleep we tire less and have better aerobic endurance, which is essential for athletes. Several studies conducted by Stanford University (USA) confirmed that athletes who slept 10 hours during competition improved both their times and their physical endurance.
Protects you from diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a terrible disease that can cause strokes, amputations, blindness and organ damage. If you’re thin but not sleeping, you’re also at risk. By not getting enough sleep, healthy adults lose their ability to control blood sugar, and the less sleep we get, the more likely we are to develop a health problem. Compared to adults who sleep seven to eight hours a night, people who sleep six hours are 1.7 times more likely to develop diabetes, and people who sleep five hours are 2.5 times more likely to develop diabetes.
Getting a good night’s sleep improves attention
Children do not react the same way to sleep deprivation as adults. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, children between the ages of seven and eight who sleep less than eight hours are more likely to be hyperactive, distractible and impulsive. And the fact is that continued lack of sleep can lead to symptoms of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in the youngest children.
Makes you look younger
People who get more sleep have healthier skin. Along with mood disorders, poor sleep is also associated with chronic skin conditions. Some research shows that lack of sleep, depression, anxiety and chronic skin problems go hand in hand. A study published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology found that people who tend to always sleep well recovered better after exposure to ultraviolet light, and their skin also recovered more quickly after doing a tape test. They also showed fewer signs of aging.
Sleeping well makes us more attractive
The best, most natural and economical beauty treatment is restful sleep. A study published in the British Medical Journal showed that people who sleep well at night are more attractive and healthier to others than people who sleep little and poorly.
At Don Colchón stores we can help you find the ideal bed to enhance your rest. We are specialists in sleep and we will advise you to make it easier for you to sleep well. Visit us in our stores in Jávea, Calpe and Dénia. We will be happy to assist you.