Sleep is the ultimate declaration of love to one’s body. It’s the ultimate act of self-care; I dare say one of the most important forms of self-care that can improve one’s overall well-being in their old age.
Modern-day living in Ghana and many other countries does not embrace the necessity for adequate sleep.
Yet, it is pivotal that people make an effort to get enough sleep regularly.
The following are some of the many benefits health professionals associate with getting a good night’s rest.
• Restoration: Sleep allows the body to repair and restore itself, which is important for maintaining good physical health.
• Memory Consolidation: Sleep is crucial for consolidating memories, which helps to improve learning and cognitive performance.
• Boosted immune system: A good night’s sleep can strengthen the immune system and make us more resistant to infections and diseases.
• Better mood: Getting enough sleep can improve our mood and reduce the risk of developing depression and anxiety.
• Improved Physical Performance: Sleep is important for physical performance, with studies suggesting that getting enough sleep can improve athletic performance, reaction time and speed.
Although sleep is very important, too much of everything is bad. Hence too much sleep has its own array of issues it presents with.
People may oversleep due to medical conditions such as hypersomnia (which is the medical term for sleeping too much and for excessive daytime sleepiness, and is diagnosed when excessive sleep has no explanation), narcolepsy (a disease condition where the brain is unable to control the sleep and wake cycles), obstructive sleep apnea, depression, alcohol and some medications. Some of the health conditions that result from too much sleeping include:
• Heart Disease: Sleeping too can increase a person’s risk of heart disease and this risk is higher for women because they sleep more than men.
• Obesity: Research has shown that people who sleep too much tends to weigh more. The weight gain is due to sleeping more and being less active.
• Diabetes: Sleeping too much can raise blood sugar and increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. However, this risk may be more so related to being sedentary and overweight rather than related to any specific connection between diabetes and excessive sleep.
• Depression: Sleep problems and depression frequently coexist. An individual with depression may sleep more. In turn, getting more sleep can keep someone in a depressed condition.
Overall, while there are some drawbacks to sleep, the benefits of getting enough sleep far outweigh the negatives, and it is essential for maintaining good health and wellbeing.
Author-Ahanta Bred
