Why a Good Night’s Sleep is so Important for our Health
Sleep is the foundation upon which physical and mental health is built. High quality, restorative sleep gives our brains and bodies a chance to slow down and recover from the rigours of a busy lifestyle.
It is imperative that we all get the best possible night’s sleep that we can. Sometimes this is easier said than done but there are several ways that you could try to improve the quality of your sleep. What works for one person may not work for another so usually finding what works for you is through trial and error.
Impacting Brain and Body
Prioritising sleep can benefit your physical and mental health in the long term. Everyone is unique and so are their sleeping patterns, so try a few of the different recommendations below to find out what works best for you: it is not so much how much you sleep rather it is the pattern of your sleep. Many people find that their sleep pattern will alter as they age.
Many people find that their sleep pattern will alter as they age. Brain development often occurs during REM sleep: concentration, decision making, reaction times and overall attention span can suffer when you have not slept properly. Physically, sleep maintains your immune system keeping it fighting fit. Sleep also increases your metabolism and sleeping soundly on a regular basis will help you to better regulate how your body uses food for energy.
As an adult, we are advised to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep a night. However, trying to maintain a work-life balance can be tricky, and life situations such as pregnancy or a loud snoring partner can reduce our ability to get the recommended hours of sleep. The older we get we also start to see a decline in our REM sleep which translates to lighter, more fragmented sleep in the night.
Advice for a Better Night’s Sleep from our Expert Debbie
• If you are someone who suffers from stress-induced sleep problems, then taking the time to relax before you go to bed may help, whether this is by having a warm bath or writing a to-do list before bed to help clear your mind.
• Begin a new routine- your body has a natural time-keeping clock that allows you to programme your body to naturally fall asleep and wake up. Maybe try to go to bed at a set time and to get up at the same time every morning.
• Avoid technology which emits a blue light. The sleep hormone melatonin is suppressed by the blue light so try to avoid using technology for about an hour before bed.
• Create the right environment. Ensuring that your bed gives the correct support and comfort means you will move about less.
• Maintaining a cool temperature may also improve your night’s sleep- keeping your bedroom at a cool temperate will also help in maintaining a good sleep pattern
• Cutting down on alcohol, spicy foods, sugary foods and caffeine will improve the quality of your sleep.
• Getting enough natural daylight and exercise during the day will help in the production of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep.
• Having a darkened room will help- having lights or lamps that have a dimmer switch are a great option that will help you to feel sleepier.
Finding your Better Night’s Sleep
A great way to begin finding the comfort and support that you need for a good night’s sleep is by ensuring that you have the right mattress for you. Sleep consultant Dr Neil Stanley advises that “you should buy a new bed when you start noticing the old one”.
A memory foam mattress is made from temperature-sensitive, high density visco-elastic foam that moulds to the contours of your body and weight to offer very good pressure relieving comfort and support. They’re ideal for someone who suffers from a bad back or poor circulation.
Memory foam mattresses have very good cushioning properties, absorbing movement with very little motion transfer if you have a restless partner.
A pocket spring mattress consists of individually wrapped coil springs that work independently of each other. This enables them to contour to your body more effectively, giving a greater degree of tailored support and pressure relief, maintaining spinal alignment and posture. They also prevent roll together if you sleep with a partner. In general, the higher the spring count the greater the level of individual support.
Pocket sprung mattresses are a more traditional type of mattress and benefit from the structure of an inner sprung support system combined with different comfort layers made from various materials which offer different levels of comfort and temperature regulating properties.
Many of these layers are made from natural fibres, such as wool and cotton, giving them obvious appeal. Theyalso tend to be hypo-allergenic, making them attractive to people suffering from allergies.
Click here to learn more about the different types of mattresses, and which one might be best for you.
For more advice on sleep or if you are looking for a new bed visit us in store, where we have over 80 beds on display including all of the leading brands and speak to one of our friendly Bed Experts.
