A good night’s sleep can make all the difference. She struggles with insomnia, and can ‘get through the day’ on six. According to the NHS, adults need, on average, between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. If you have the odd bad night, it’s not that much of a big deal, but if you’re consistently struggling to sleep, you could face a whole host of issues from increased anxiety to a loss of productivity. While you sleep, your immune system produces protective, infection-fighting substances such as cytokines. It uses these substances to combat foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Anxiety can harm your body’s ability to fall asleep, as your brain is in “fight or flight” mode, thinking of all the potential outcomes for whatever is causing the anxiety. ‘Furthermore, anticipatory anxiety and specific anxiety about sleep can lead to sleep disturbance and insomnia, which then creates a feedback loop that can make both conditions worsen.’ Whilst we’re sleeping, hormones such as cortisol, leptin, and ghrelin are regulated, which are the hormones that are important in the control of weight. A lack of sleep decreases the levels of these hormones in the blood. ‘Long-term lack of sleep increases appetite, overeating, and risk of weight gain and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, stroke, and heart attack. ‘There’s also an increased risk of diabetes and other chronic conditions.’ Not only that, but a lack of sleep is also associated with memory and cognitive impairment – it even increases your risk of Alzheimer’s.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Tuesday, May 20, 2025