Insomnia
What is Sleep?
Sleep is not simply an unconscious, inactive state. Our brains are not simply switched off when we go to sleep and switched on during waking hours. A lot occurs during sleep which is important for our life in general and well-being. Our bodily tissues are regenerated during sleep. Hormones such as the growth hormone released in children are produced during sleep.
Can’t Sleep?
Many people in today’s world have difficulty in getting to sleep or staying asleep. Work and financial stress are often the main contributory factors and causes of insomnia. Sleeping disorders such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are also increasingly common.
At sleepmentor we aim to provide you with a one stop resource to tackle and empower you in curing your insomnia. Even if you do not suffer from insomnia but feel constantly tired, quality of sleep is probably an issue and this advice is also applicable to you.
Although individuals vary in the amount of sleep they need, it is generally recommended to get at least 6-8 hours per night. Some people function well on 3-4 hours but they are in the minority. People will generally know their own body and know how many hours they need. Any disruption to this can affect your mood, cognitive functions and so have a detrimental affect on your work and relationships. In the U.S. around 11 work days per person per year are lost in productivity.
Sleep Deprivation
As can be seen in the above diagram the effects of sleep deprivation are many and varied. As well as those effects illustrated other impacts occur such as:
- Increased risk of stroke
- Increased risk while driving
- Injury risk when working with machinery
- Emotional disturbances and psychiatric problems
