Why is Sleep Important to Human Health?
Quality sleep is vital for human health. Humans have biological rhythms known as circadian rhythm, which control our body clock. Just a few nights of poor-quality sleep can cause a circadian rhythm sleep disorder, which is linked to ill health and prolonged periods of sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on all the family.
Lack of sleep in adults can cause accidents, tiredness at work, loss of concentration, irritability and frayed tempers. During the last three months of pregnancy, women experience an increase in disturbed sleep, which then increases the risk of antenatal and postnatal depression and puts extra stress on parental relationships.
Tired and anxious post-natal women are less able to interact with a baby in a positive way, which negatively with the mother/baby bonding.
The consequences of baby sleep problems can have long-lasting detrimental effects and all family members. In fact, a lot of parents feel that dealing with a child's sleep issue is more stressful than dealing with a health problem. Tired and stressed parents are often too exhausted to untangle the complicated behavioural problems associated with sleep. Therefore, it is essential that parents have clear knowledge and understanding of sleep, as they are part of the problem and the solution. It will inevitably help both your and your child’s sleep.
Sleep Cycles
During time asleep, your brain will cycle through different types of sleep repeatedly: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep.
Non-REM sleep comes in 4 stages. The first stage is the time between being awake and falling asleep. The 2nd stage is classed as ‘light sleep’, when the heart rate and breathing are regulated and body temperature drops. The 3rd and 4th stages are deep sleep. Though REM sleep was previously believed to be the most important sleep phase for learning and memory, newer data suggests that non-REM sleep is more important for these tasks, as well as being the more restful and restorative phase of sleep.
As you cycle into REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly behind closed lids, and brain waves are similar to those during wakefulness. Breath rate increases and the body becomes temporarily paralysed as we dream.
The cycle then repeats itself, but with each cycle, you spend less time in the deeper stages three and four of sleep and more time in REM sleep. On a typical night, you’ll cycle through four or five times.
When you appreciate how vital sleep is to your health, the health of your baby and the general well-being of all the family, you will want to ensure that you implement good sleeping patterns from the very beginning. I recommend parents synchronise their baby’s sleeping pattern to one that suits their lifestyle, and make sure that, parent or not, you’re getting enough sleep yourself.
If you’re struggling with your sleep, I am able to help you with my Adult Sleep Coaching package.
Here’s a recent testimonial from one of my clients
“I have struggled with sleep for many years but it wasn’t until I saw a friend give a shout-out to Claudine on Instagram as a professional sleep therapist that I believed there was someone out there who could help. After a consultation, Claudine quickly implemented changes to my lifestyle and habits which I’m happy to say have helped enormously. Some felt strange to adopt at the beginning but they really have worked and I’m now much more in control of my sleep. Sleep for me will always be a challenge but working with Claudine has now given me a broader view of what works and what doesn’t so I feel much more positive for the future. Many thanks! Sean.”
Sweet Dreams,
Claudine
