Sleeping well is a pleasure and choosing the best mattress, on many occasions, makes it possible. However, lack of sleep can lead to certain problems in our health and well-being, since during sleep the physical and mental wear caused by our daily activity is regenerated.
Sleeping between 7 and 8 hours is very important, as it is the time the body needs to rest properly. Thus, it is essential to sleep well to maintain a good physical, mental and cognitive state. In this Psychology-Online article, we explain what causes lack of sleep, its symptoms and effects In the health.
Although the recommendation of the experts is to sleep between 7 and 8 hours a day, not everyone has the same needs. Therefore, it is important choose the best mattress that suits each one's sleep routine. In this sense, to avoid lack of sleep, it is important to know what factors affect our health and well-being. We see them below:
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Age: as we get older, it is natural to lose sleep. While babies can get to sleep 18 hours a day, with the arrival of the elderly they are reduced to 6 hours. In addition, the depth and continuity of sleep are also affected. At age 20, sleep needs remain constant and should not be affected until old age.
- Gender: According to a study carried out by the National Institutes of Health, it has been proven that lack of sleep generally affects a greater number of women than men.
- Changes in routine: changing work shifts, traveling to a different time zone or even changing beds and mattresses can affect our normal sleep rhythm and cause insomnia.
- physical problems: certain acute or chronic diseases can affect night rest. Some of the most common sleep problems are obstructive sleep apnea, muscle fatigue and headaches, among others.
- life situation: Another cause of lack of sleep can be living situations such as moving house, the birth of children, an important work project or being in exam time. Stress, anxiety and states of change, accompanied by worries, are usually determining factors that alter night rest.
- mood: Related to the previous point, mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, are risk factors that can trigger insomnia.
- Bad habits: activities such as consuming caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine, eating a heavy dinner, having a poorly conditioned room, practicing sports before sleeping or using the mobile before sleeping can cause lack of sleep.
Sleep is essential for the well-being of any person. Therefore, a disorder that alters it can directly affect health, safety and quality of life. Some of the symptoms that can cause sleep deprivation are:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Physical and mental exhaustion.
- Irregular breathing (loud snoring, gasping, snorting, stopping breathing for short periods, or apnea).
- Difficulty getting to sleep.
- Irregular sleep and wake cycle (takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep)
- Tingling sensation in extremities.
- Frequent shaking of the arms or legs during sleep.
- Episodes of sudden muscle weakness.
- Lived or oneiric experiences while you fall asleep or are asleep.
- Inactive brain and mental dullness.
How does lack of sleep affect the brain and the general well-being of people? The physical and psychological consequences of not getting enough sleep are the following:
- Lower brain performance during the day: It can cause a decrease in attention, concentration and memory, which can affect both our work and academic performance.
- Anxiety or frustration: lack of sleep affects our psychological health, so it can be a trigger for anxiety, frustration and stress.
- Feeling of fatigue, headache and headache: Lack of sleep can directly affect our sleep cycle and cause these physical effects.
- Development of cardiovascular diseases: the fact of not being able to sleep can be a risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, obesity, general weakness and propensity to contract diseases by viruses or bacteria, In addition, lack of sleep in children can also alter their period of increase.
For all these reasons, it is important to maintain good sleep hygiene, both in adults and children, and adopt good habits to sleep well. Resting at night is essential to maintain good physical and mental health.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
