We spend approximately a third of our lives sleeping. It’s an essential part of what we do, and without it, we can’t function effectively.
Sleep and health are strongly related. When we sleep, it helps our brains and bodies restore energy, which is vital for maintaining good physical and mental health.
What is the connection between sleep and health?
There is a well-established link between mental health and sleep; common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression can often underpin sleep problems. In my experience, where this is the case, a combined approach of treating both sleep and mental health problems together is often the most effective. Unfortunately, that help isn’t currently readily available on the NHS and, generally speaking, that connection doesn’t seem to have been made within the medical profession.
As an example, in my work with families and individuals who struggle to sleep, there’s a consistent theme: many people are told that they are depressed or suffering another mental health condition and that their insomnia, and consequential sleep deprivation, are symptoms of this. However, I see a lot of people who are frustrated with the medical professionals supporting them as they feel that, actually, the sleep deprivation is the cause of their mental health issues, and from my experience in many cases I’m inclined to agree.
Understanding sleep and health in children
I’ve recently been working with teenagers, some of whom are getting only 2 to 4 hours of sleep a night. In some cases, they are being referred to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) because their lack of sleep is affecting their behaviour. These teens get quite angry, adamant that if they could sort their sleep out, they would feel a lot better.
I also suffered from insomnia in my childhood and early adult life, and from working with them, I’ve found they are often right. I’ve seen first-hand that as I counsel and coach them through their sleep issues and they start to sleep better, their mood improves and they feel better in themselves. Unfortunately, it’s not just as simple as saying sleep is either a symptom or a cause of mental health issues. But there is undoubtedly a relationship between the two, and they should be addressed together.
As we seek to support those diagnosed with mental health conditions, we often look at how we protect their emotional wellbeing, but as part of this I believe we should be looking at their sleep too. To do this, we need medical professionals to be able to access the sleep training and knowledge they need to be able to better support their patients.
Hopefully, in my work with Westfield Health, we can help those who are suffering to get this much-needed access to sleep support, and help get the message out there so that professionals can also get the training they need.
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Sleep & Health – FAQ
How does sleep affect overall health?
Sleep is foundational to good overall health in many ways, supporting both brain function and overall physical health. Health benefits of sleep include:
- Heart health: Good sleep has a strong relationship with heart health, decreasing the risk of heart attack or stroke by 48%.
- Cognitive function: Healthy sleep habits have a direct impact on an individual’s ability to think clearly and recall information.
- Regulated blood sugar and Diabetes risk: Sleep and regular rest have been shown to improve the body’s insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Immune support: Getting sufficient, quality sleep supports your body in creating antibodies and proteins that help fight viruses and infections.
What are the symptoms of poor sleep?
Poor sleep has several negative side effects. If you feel like you have been struggling to get enough high-quality sleep, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Excessive fatigue
- Irritability and mood swings
- Slow reaction times
- Headaches
- Increased hunger
- Lack of concentration
What are the benefits of sleep?
Sleep has a lot of strong benefits not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. Some strong benefits of sleep include:
- Energy: One of the most commonly known benefits of sleep is the impact on the energy you feel across the day, helping to increase alertness and minimising the risk of accidents such as car crashes and personal injuries. A strong sleep routine can allow you to feel more rested, alert and energised during the workday
- Mood: Many of us have experienced the negative mental impact of a bad night’s sleep. This is because getting enough high-quality sleep can help regulate hormones and stabilise moods.
- Improved heart health: Sleep plays a significant role in maintaining healthy blood pressure, as well as lowering the risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes.
- Stronger resistance to sickness: Research has suggested that getting routine good sleep supports your body in creating vital antibodies that fight illnesses or infection. In addition to fighting active illnesses, sleep also plays an active role in injury repair, as the body repairs tissues, regenerates cells and rebuilds muscle during those vital hours of sleep.
© The Sleep Geek 2017