Having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? Pressing snooze more than once to get a couple more minutes of “shut eye” before your day begins? Or you’re noticing its becoming more difficult to concentrate on your work throughout the day? It is very possible that your sleep habits and overall health may be contributing to more than a lack of good quality sleep, but longer term health issues.
On Friday, March 13, 2015, World Sleep Day will be celebrated all over the globe. This annual event is a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep. This year’s theme is “When Sleep is Sound, Health and Happiness Abound,” focusing on insomnia, with several other identifying messages. Let’s take a look at each of the statements in this year’s slogan.
Sound Sleep — How do you know if you’re getting sound sleep? If you are breathing well, dreaming well and resting well your sleep will be continuous and uninterrupted, deep and of adequate length resulting in restorative sound sleep. If all of these are achieved you should feel alert and rested throughout the day. If you have the inability to sleep or deal with habitual sleepiness you may have insomnia, which can affect every aspect of your life.
Health Abounds— People with any level of insomnia may not realize all of the health risks that can result from sleeplessness. There is a higher risk of cardiovascular issues, as well as cognitive and memory deficits; children with insomnia may have learning disabilities and suffer behavioral problems.Individuals that struggle with getting an entire night’s sleep without any interruptions also experience higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other chronic illnesses.
Happiness Abounds — Studies have shown that people with insomnia suffer from more symptoms of anxiety and depression than people without insomnia. The quality of sleep can disturb day to day mood and affect relationships depending on how you socially interact and perform your daily activities. With better sleep, life will result in a happier life for yourself and also for your colleagues, family and friends. It will also help prevent the aggravation of mental health illnesses.
