Sleep hours are vitally important in people's lives and can increase the chances of developing psychological disorders.. Improving the quality of sleep can improve the quality of life of patients.
Importance of sleep in health
Sleep hours are of great importance in the life of any human being, from the moment of birth. In fact, in children and babies, sleep is essential for their correct development and physical and psychological growth.
In adults, the quality of sleep directly affects their usual activities, since during the hours of sleep, rest and muscle relaxation occur., and decreases the respiratory rate. Furthermore, sleep is related to mood, observing that, in people with poorer sleep quality, psychological disorders such as anxiety or depression are more common.
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Request a medical evaluationSleep is influenced by two main hormones: cortisol and melatonin.. The first is the stress hormone, and it concentrates in the blood during the first hours of the morning, making the person active. However, melatonin is the sleep hormone, and greater concentration occurs when night comes, which puts the human being in a state of relaxation. This balance of hormones is essential for people to have quality sleep.
Consequences of poor quality sleep on health
Poor quality sleep has direct consequences on people's health. Firstly, if the hours of sleep are not enough, the general state will be tired and, therefore, the person's physical performance will be directly affected.
Furthermore, as explained, insufficient quality sleep can cause damage to mental health, such as stress either anxiety. On the other hand, the person's cognitive capacity will be affected, since poor quality sleep can accelerate cognitive deterioration. Affecting the ability to concentrate and learn or memory loss.
On the other hand, sleep directly affects the person's reflexes, that is, their physical responses to stimuli. This can be harmful and increase the chances of having a traffic accident.
Sleep-related pathologies
As has been seen, Poor sleep quality increases the risk of developing psychological disorders. Additionally, people with poorer sleep quality may increase the chance of suffering from heart disease.
Sleep disorders
There are pathologies directly related to sleep, which affect the quality of life of patients in a negative way that, in many cases, require treatment.
First of all, one of the most common disorders is insomnia, which causes difficulty falling asleep, causing the patient to experience a state of general fatigue. On the other hand, hypersomnia is differentiated, which means that, despite having slept a sufficient number of hours, the patient feels tired that affects their daily activities.
Sleep apnea is a disorder that especially affects men.. It is caused by an obstruction of the airways during sleeping hours, and causes breathing to stop.
Lastly, there is narcolepsy, which is characterized by the patient experiencing constant drowsiness throughout the day and may suffer sudden sleep attacks, which directly affect the performance of their daily activities.
Treatments to improve sleep quality
When the patient goes to the doctor, presenting the aforementioned symptoms, he or she is usually referred to the Sleep Unit, where will be subjected to different tests, in which the different phases of sleep will be analyzed. Once the diagnosis is made, the most appropriate treatment will be prescribed.
First of all, the most common thing is that a pharmacological treatment is prescribed, based on muscle relaxants or drugs that enhance the release of melatonin, which helps alleviate the effects of the patient's sleep disorders.
In addition, treatments with osteopathy or physiotherapy can help muscle relaxation, as well as organic balance, which helps with falling asleep.
Guidelines for sleeping well
In many cases, sleep disorders are inevitable. However, there are certain guidelines that can help achieve good quality sleep. First of all, it is important to maintain routines and respect sleep hours.
On the other hand, it is recommended to do physical exercise, which helps the person arrive tired at bedtime, which will help them fall asleep. As well as, follow a balanced diet, avoiding copious or spicy foods, which may hinder digestion.
In addition, you should avoid the consumption of alcoholic or exciting drinks, which affect the stimulation of the body.
As has been explained, There are certain treatments that offer good results to improve the quality of sleep of patients. Furthermore, following certain guidelines can help you notice improvement.
