Dr. Tariq Jagnarine
Family Medicine, Endocrinology/Diabetes
A good night’s sleep is incredibly important for our health. In fact, it’s just as important as eating healthy and exercising. Unfortunately, there’s a lot that can interfere with natural sleep patterns. People are now sleeping less than they did in the past, and sleep quality has decreased as well.
Benefits of sleep
1: Poor sleep is linked to higher body weight
People with short sleep duration tend to weigh significantly more than those who get adequate sleep. In fact, short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity.
In one extensive review study, children and adults with short sleep duration were respectively 89% and 55% more likely to develop obesity. The effect of sleep on weight gain is believed to be mediated by numerous factors, including hormones and motivation to exercise.
For persons trying to lose weight, getting quality sleep is absolutely crucial.
2: Good sleepers tend to eat fewer calories
Studies show that sleep-deprived individuals have a bigger appetite, and tend to eat more calories. Sleep deprivation disrupts the daily fluctuations in appetite hormones, and is believed to cause poor appetite regulation. This includes higher levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite, and reduced levels of leptin, the hormone that suppresses appetite.
3: Good sleep can improve concentration and productivity
Sleep is important for various aspects of brain function. These include cognition, concentration, productivity and performance. All of these are negatively affected by sleep deprivation.
A study done on medical interns provides a good example. Interns on a traditional schedule with extended work hours of more than 24 hours made 36% more serious medical errors than interns on a schedule that allowed more sleep.
Another study found that short sleep can negatively impact some aspects of brain function to a similar degree as alcohol intoxication.
On the other hand, good sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance memory performance of both children and adults.
4: Good sleep can maximise
athletic performance
Sleep has been shown to enhance athletic performance. In a study on basketball players, longer sleep was shown to significantly improve speed, accuracy, reaction times, and mental well-being.
Less sleep duration has also been associated with poor exercise performance and functional limitation in older women. A study of over 2,800 women found that poor sleep was linked to slower walking, lower grip strength, and greater difficulty performing independent activities.
5: Poor sleepers have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke
Sleep quality and duration can have a major effect on many health-risk factors. These are the factors believed to drive chronic diseases, including heart disease.
A review of 15 studies found that people who do not get enough sleep are at far greater risk of heart disease or stroke than those who sleep 7–8 hours per night.
6: Sleep affects
glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes risk
Experimental sleep restriction affects blood sugar and reduces insulin sensitivity. In a study done on healthy young men, restricting sleep to 4 hours per night for 6 nights in a row caused symptoms of prediabetes. These symptoms resolved after one week of increased sleep duration.
Poor sleep habits are also strongly linked to adverse effects on blood sugar in the general population. Those sleeping less than 6 hours per night have repeatedly been shown to be at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
7: Poor sleep is linked to depression
Mental health issues such as depression are strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders. It’s been estimated that 90% of people with depression complain about sleep quality.
Poor sleep is even associated with an increased risk of death by suicide. Those with sleeping disorders like insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea also report significantly higher rates of depression than those without.
8: Sleep improves our immune function
Even a small loss of sleep has been shown to impair immune function. One large 2-week study monitored the development of the common cold after giving people nasal drops with the cold virus. They found that those who slept less than 7 hours were almost 3 times more likely to develop a cold than those who slept 8 hours or more. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep can improve our immune function, and help fight the common cold.
9: Poor sleep is linked to increased inflammation
Sleep can have a major effect on inflammation in the body. In fact, sleep loss is known to activate undesirable markers of inflammation and cell damage. Poor sleep has been strongly linked to long-term inflammation of the digestive tract in disorders known as inflammatory bowel disease.
One study observed that sleep-deprived people with Crohn’s disease were twice as likely to relapse as patients who slept well. Researchers are even recommending sleep evaluation to help predict outcomes in individuals with long-term inflammatory issues.
10. Sleep affects emotions and social interactions
Sleep loss reduces your ability to interact socially. Several studies confirmed this by using emotional facial recognition tests. One study found that people who hadn’t slept had a reduced ability to recognise expressions of anger and happiness. Researchers believe that poor sleep affects our ability to recognise important social cues and process emotional information.
Along with nutrition and exercise, good sleep is one of the pillars of health. We simply cannot achieve optimal health without taking care of our sleep.
