The quality of our sleep can sometimes be solved by something as relatively easy as investing in a new mattress, but even this takes a lot of consideration. Finding the best summer quilts at Woolstar (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter) can be a time-consuming, even expensive process. Sometimes people spend days, and even weeks, trying out different quilts at different stores. And because everyone sleeps differently and has different sleeping preferences, it can be a lot of testing and even compromise (this is especially true when a couple is looking for new bedroom furnishings, and they have different preferences).
However, sometimes the problem of unhealthy sleeping patterns is not so easily solved. When it comes to key impactors of our health, one that most (if not all) of us continuously underestimate is the quality of our sleep. While we know that our sleeping pattern influences how rested we feel, many of us do not bother to learn about the other, deeper effects that lack of sleep (or, similarly, oversleeping) have on the human body. There are many, but there are three core ways that sleep impacts our whole health the most frequently and the most seriously.
Sleep and some diseases
Fractured or otherwise unhealthy sleeping patterns have a genuine (and potentially serious) impact on our physical health, in particular with our risk for certain diseases. While this has been the exact topic of multiple studies in years past, it was not until a study conducted in 2015 that our sleeping pattern impacts the health of our arteries in multiple ways. When we do not get enough sleep, the body experiences heightened levels of stress because it has not gotten the rest that it genuinely needs. This very issue has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity (among other physical health risks).
Sleep and metabolism
When we sleep well, our bodies can naturally go through the processes of working certain things through our systems. On the other hand, when we experience disjointed sleeping patterns, our bodies go into survival mode, trying to protect us from expelling too much energy without in turn getting the adequate nutrients to keep our bodies functioning properly. The metabolism slows down, boosting the body’s ability to store fat. Over time, an unhealthy sleeping pattern can be (and unfortunately sometimes is) directly linked to issues that correlate with fractured metabolism, including (again) diabetes and obesity.
Sleep and mentality
The brain is the hungriest organ in the human body. At night, when we sleep our brains have a chance to solidify our memories of the day that has just been. Throughout the average day, our brains develop a build-up of “gunk” through cerebrospinal fluid. This toxin is directly associated with mental disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as basic cognitive function. The brain clears out this “gunk” every night, and if we do not allow this to happen, then the build-up of the fluid manifests in diseases of the mind.
