Impacts of Sleep
Life has been so busy for everyone that there became a new common phrase reminding us that “rest is productive.” While I am not certain who started that— they’re onto something! Sure,
we have all found ourselves in a race against time and cut into our sleeping hours to accomplish something important…or make up for lack of time management (whoops). However, the karma of our own actions will always find their way back to us.
Sleep is essential for everyone because it assists with the biological process of our bodies, promotes healing and growth, assists with cognitive function, emotional well-being, and helps to prevent long term health risks. As some of us have figured out over time, it’s more than just closing your eyes and drifting off to dreamland. When we first fall asleep, we enter what is considered non-REM 1 (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is the initial sleep state where the body first starts relaxing. Next a person will slip into non-REM 2, the longest stage, where the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing slow down- requiring less energy from your body. After that is accomplished, a person will enter non-REM 3 which is the deepest state of sleep and responsible for helping the body restore and grow. Finally, the body enters what is called REM sleep. This is when your brain activity is high, but the muscles are temporarily paralyzed to prevent the dreams from being acted out. This stage is most important for emotional regulation and memory consolidation.
In a typical night a person will go through four to six cycles of sleep. Unfortunately, not all nights of sleep are created equal. Some people may experience sleep disturbances secondary to stress or medical conditions such as sleep apnea. Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to negative impacts on the cardiovascular system, immune system, metabolic health, and neurological health.
If you feel like you’re not getting quality sleep here are some things you can try on your own at first:
Exercise- burning off energy that has been stored may make it easier for your body to rest later in the day.
Consistent sleep schedule- it is nice being an adult and going to bed whenever you want. However, having a consistent bedtime can help train your body to rest at a certain point in the day.
Eliminating light exposure- when you are ready to sleep turn off all the lights and put your phone away. Lights are a simple, natural signal to the body when to be awake and when to go to bed. I promise the endless TikTok and Reel videos can wait.
If you are still experiencing issues going to sleep, staying asleep, or getting quality sleep, contact your primary care physician. Having trouble being active because of a previous injury or lack of motivation? Let us know how we can help. Physical therapists can help you remain active so that you can achieve quality sleep.
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