In recent years, dozens of studies point to the direct connection and effect that quality sleep has on our health. Sleep is a state of consciousness, where we have limited interactions with our environment. During sleep, the body is quiet and still, while the brain is very active and performs many important functions that affect the body's systems, our physical and mental functioning after sleep, our ability to fight diseases and develop immunity, and our metabolism and risk of contracting chronic diseases. In fact, sleep is related to every aspect of health.
In order to prepare the article, we reviewed research articles in the field and asked to meet with Naor Bar, the entrepreneur behind LAYLUX, a company that brought about a real breakthrough and revolution in everything related to the quality of our sleep.
Healthy sleep is measured according to three main components: The number of hours of sleep, the quality of sleep - continuous and refreshing sleep, regular hours of sleep.
Why does our body need sleep?
Sleep helps prepare the brain to learn, remember and create. Studies have found that the brain has a drainage system that removes toxins during sleep. These toxins are removed from the brain twice as fast during sleep than during waking hours. Everything, from the blood vessels to the immune system, undergo repair processes during sleep. There are repair processes that occur in the body in the most efficient way, precisely during sleep.
On the importance of quality sleep
Heart health:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA, the CDC, quality sleep affects heart health. During sleep, when you enter NON-REM sleep, which is attributed to the three stages of sleep (from falling asleep to deep sleep), blood pressure and heart rate decrease, The parasympathetic nervous system (the system responsible for relaxation when the body is at rest) kicks in and the heart does not work as hard as it does during waking hours.
During REM sleep and when you wake up, the sympathetic nervous system begins to work, the heart rate increases and the blood pressure reaches the normal levels of the waking state. When people wake up frequently during the night, they can be at increased risk for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and stroke.
Blood insulin level:
Sleep also affects the level of the hormone insulin in the blood, and helps blood sugar enter the body's cells, according to the NHLBI National Institute in the US, a leading institute for the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders.
Sleeping seven hours or more each night helps improve insulin activity, making it easier for the body to use glucose for energy. An interesting study published in 2015 in the journal "Diabetes Care" of the American Diabetes Association found that people who slept less than six hours a night had a 23% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, compared to those who slept seven hours or more. Without enough sleep, the body's resistance to insulin increases because cells are unable to use insulin properly, and blood sugar rises.
A proper weight:
Maintaining a healthy weight Over the years, several studies have been conducted that linked obesity and poor sleep patterns. Adequate sleep helps regulate the levels of hormones responsible for appetite. It increases the levels of leptin, a hormone that inhibits appetite, and decreases the levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite.
Sufficient sleep also helps improve metabolism, meaning the body's ability to turn food into energy. A healthy metabolism helps maintain a healthy weight.
Moreover, a good night's sleep can help the body consume fewer calories. A 2022 clinical trial found that overweight adults who increased their sleep duration consumed fewer calories compared to a control group. The adults lengthened their sleep by an average of 1.2 hours, and consumed about 270 calories less than the control group.
Mental health:
Sleep and mental health go hand in hand. Quality sleep allows us to wake up refreshed, and to function optimally during the day. One night of sleep deprivation can dramatically affect your mood the next day. Persistent poor sleep quality is linked to depression, anxiety and other illnesses. The effect is two-way, meaning that anxiety and depression often greatly affect the quality of sleep, and then there is a kind of 'snowball' of poor sleep quality that affects our ability to cope with the anxiety and depression, and so on.
Strengthening the immune system:
Sufficient sleep encourages the production and function of white blood cells, which are cells responsible for protection against infections. Sleep also encourages the production and function of antibodies, which are proteins that protect against infections, and reduces inflammatory reactions, which can cause health problems. Many studies have found a connection between lack of sleep and decreased immune system function. For example, a study published in the journal Sleep in 2014 found that people who slept less than six hours a night were 30% more likely to develop infections than those who slept seven hours or more.
Strengthening memory and preserving it:
Sleep helps in learning and creating long-term memories. The flexible brain theory assumes that sleep is necessary for the brain to grow, reorganize neural connections, rebuild them, and create new neural connections. These connections in the brain help people learn new information and form memories during sleep. A good night's sleep can lead to better problem-solving and decision-making skills. Lack of sleep can negatively affect the ability to think clearly, form memories, learn well and function optimally during the day.
Impact on emotional and social intelligence:
Sleep has something to do with people's emotional and social intelligence. Lack of sleep causes emotional problems and failed interaction with those around us. A 2022 study by the National Sleep Foundation in the USA examined the relationship between sleep quality and attraction and emotional intelligence. 477 participants were asked to fill out questionnaires about sleep habits and emotional intelligence. People who routinely experienced better quality sleep tended to perceive themselves as having good emotional intelligence more, such as success in social interactions, maintaining relationships, feeling positive and controlling impulses.
"We at LAYLUX, using unique technology, manufacture the mattress according to the body structure and body needs of the person who purchases the mattress and sleeps on it, of course after accurate diagnosis and analysis by a medical team, all with the aim of providing a quality night's sleep that fits your body like a glove" concludes Noor the meeting between us.
*The content on this channel does not constitute a professional opinion, a recommendation, a substitute for consulting an expert or receiving medical advice.