What is the hidden cost of not sleeping?
SLEEP is crucial, and lack of it is definitely not something to be ignored. I watched a couple of documentaries recently which, to be honest with you frightened me into doing something about my own inability to get to sleep. We need sleep and we all need to find a solution. According to the RTE documentary AWAKE one in three of us can’t get to sleep or have difficulty staying asleep. Are you one of them?
I hadn’t been sleeping well and I was putting this down to just another symptom of the menopause. I didn’t bother doing anything about it and kept telling myself that it’s normal, it will pass. But then I was speaking with a friend of mine who told me that she never gets a good night’s sleep, and lots of her friends weren’t sleeping either.
They were also putting the symptoms down to their age and the menopause. They were also putting up with it. Menopausal women are not the only group putting up with not sleeping. Stress, worry, overthinking, medication, illness, and electronic devices can all affect sleep.
Without adequate sleep the body does not repair, renew, or restore itself. This can lead to an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke and other cardiovascular disease. It can cause an increase in inflammation which can contribute to the risk of diabetes, may contribute to weight gain and can also affect mood. Lack of sleep can cause aging of the skin and have a negative impact on the immune system. Who wants any of this?
Tips to help you get to sleep quicker are, make sure that your bedroom is completely dark as this encourages the production of melatonin, the hormone that triggers sleep. Don’t check your phone for emails, text, or facebook as the blue light on your phone will trick your brain into thinking that it’s daytime so switch it off. Go to bed and get up at the same time. Avoid coffee, and adrenalin pumping TV shows before bed. Aim to relax and wind down for half an hour before going to bed. These steps can help.
Next week I will go through some of the natural remedies that you could try.