Here’s how regular sleep can benefit your health

The lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes to our lifestyle and one of the major ones is the change in our sleeping pattern. Due to increased screen time, lack of exercise and unpredictable work hours, our sleep schedule has gone for a toss. Consequently, improper sleep habits are increasing our risk to other health issues.

Before we delve into the benefits of regular sleep, let’s understand what sleep actually is. Sleep is typically understood as a state of rest for the body and mind. However, there are a lot of bodily processes that take place, while we are sleeping. Through this SMBT blog, let’s explore how regular sleep can benefit your health. 

Tik-tok-tik

Our biological clock a.k.a circadian rhythm, is responsible for the natural sleep-wake cycle that regulates sleep in human beings. But a disturbed biological clock is not just detrimental to your sleep but it also affects other factors like appetite, stress levels and heart health. To ensure that the biological clock is in tune, the sleep-wake cycle should be functioning optimally.

All about the hormones

Most of our body systems are regulated by hormones secreted by the body, while we are asleep. For example the pituitary gland secretes the growth hormone when we are asleep. However irregular sleep or sleep deprivation can disturb or inhibit the secretion of some of these essential hormones. For example, it is understood that the secretion of Insulin is affected by sleep deprivation, which if not checked, can result in an early onset of diabetes.

Make memories

An important function of the brain, apart from processing information, is the function of remembering. Storing memories is one of the essential functions performed by the brain when we are asleep. While you are at rest, the brain stores the events of the day as part of the long term memory. You are perhaps learning something new, trying to memorise something or just created a good memory with the family. A regular sleep pattern will ensure that these functions are carried out smoothly.

Raise your defences

Regular sleep is not only important to help recover our bodies from the daily wear and tear but also rejuvenate our body’s defences. When we sleep regularly, our immune system is functioning at its finest. Cytokines, a type of protein secreted by the immune system, is released when we are asleep, helping the body defend better against any threat. In times of a pandemic, it is far more critical to follow good sleeping habits. 

Good sleeping habits include a quiet sleeping environment, sleeping at the right time and getting enough sleep. An average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep everyday and children, depending on their age, could need anywhere around 8-12 hours of sleep daily.

We hope after reading this blog you will prioritise your sleep and health. If you liked this blog do share it with your friends and family. Stay tuned with us for more health related blogs!