Did you know that sleep is just as important as diet and exercise when it comes to your overall health? Most people don’t get enough sleep, which can lead to a number of health problems. In this article, we’ll discuss 10 interesting sleep facts that can help you get better zzz’s!
(1) The average person spends about a third of their life asleep.
When it’s expressed like this, it becomes easier to see how significant sleep really is! And while not everyone gets 8 hours sleep per 24 hour period, it’s clear that over a lifetime a considerable number of hours are spent sleeping.
(2)You can improve your sleep quality by creating a bed-time routine.
This could include winding down for 30 minutes before sleep, listening to quiet music or a podcast, closing blinds or curtains etc.
(3) Sleeping in on the weekends won't make up for lost sleep during the week.
While weekend sleep-ins to catch up on some sleep can help restore your sleep bank’s balance, it’s not going to work long term. Your body needs consistent quality sleep in order to perform at its best, so making sure you get sufficient sleep each night is really important.
(4) Blue light from electronic screens can interfere with your ability to fall asleep.
And yes, this is a particularly challenging one for tweens and teens. To ensure they receive proper sleep it’s a great idea to implement a device curfew so they’re not tempted by phones and tablets when they should be sleeping.
(5) Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially, but it will disrupt your sleep cycle later in the night.
This is because alcohol interferes with REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is restorative and important to your overall health. Instead of an alcoholic nightcap, maybe a cup of chamomile tea instead to give you a greater chance for sound sleep.
(6) Snoring is not just a nuisance - it can also be a sign of a serious health condition
If your sleeping partner complains of you snoring loudly, it’s time to see your doctor about it. Snoring is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea, a condition that needs to be confirmed by undertaking a sleep study. The good news is effective treatment is available!
(7) A cool room is best for getting a good night's sleep.
Your body temperature naturally drops during sleep and a cool room is best to aid that process. A room temperature between 16˚C – 20˚C is ideal for most people, but if you get cold easily then it’s OK to have the room temperature a bit higher.
(8) There are different stages of sleep and each is important for your health
There are five stages of sleep, and each one is important for your physical and mental health. Stage four and five are the most restorative stages of sleep. The REM cycle is when we dream.
(9) Not getting enough sleep can make you sick.
Poor sleep quality and quantity increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity – which sounds pretty serious! So if you’re feeling a bit under the weather it’s important to consider whether it could just be coming down to not getting sufficient quality shut eye.
(10) Sleeping too much can be just as bad as not getting enough sleep.
Oversleeping can lead to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. So it’s important to find the right balance for you! Once you know how much sleep your body really needs for it to function best, try and stick to it daily.
We hope this article has helped educate you on some interesting sleep facts! If you’re looking for more information on how to get a good night’s sleep then our sleep specialists are always on hand to help. Just call 1800 717 566 today for sleep support.
