Sleep is needed by everyone, from newborns to senior citizens. Not only does it allow the body to rest and recuperate, it also keeps the mind fresh and clear for a new day ahead. There is a significant relationship between sleep and health for both children and adults, and everyone should do their best to get more of it when they can. Both physical and mental health get impacted when people don’t get the rest their mind and body deserves.
Creating a Good Sleep Environment
A good sleep environment is necessary to ensure both kids, parents, grandparents, and everyone else can get the rest they require. For babies, this means choosing the right cradle mattress that stays firm and supportive. Infants need to sleep on their backs in a sleep sack or swaddle. No blankets or pillows should be kept inside the crib with them.
For adults, a memory foam mattress could be ideal, as it helps to keep the body in place in a comfortable position. Along with the right pillow, comfortable mattresses and blankets make all the difference when adults try to get the rest they need. Having a fan or humidifier in the room may also help people sleep, along with scents of lavender that promote a feeling of calm and relaxation.
Sleep and Physical Health
Physical health gets altered when people aren’t getting enough sleep, making it more important than people realize. The immune system is weakened when the body does not get the rest it needs, resulting in illness. Blood vessels get repaired and healed while sleeping. Those who are lacking adequate rest are more likely to experience heart disease and high blood pressure since their body is not healing as it should. Without the sleep required, poor physical health is a bigger risk.
Sleep and Mental Health
A lack of sleep often results in poor decision making, problem-solving, and emotion control. People are more likely to feel angry or depressed when they haven’t gotten adequate rest. Many say it’s difficult to function. They don’t feel like themselves, and they have a hard time concentrating. This is because sleep allows the brain to rest and prepare for the next day. Without it, the brain cannot function properly, making people have a hard time remembering things and coping with challenges.
Developing a Sleep Pattern
One way people can improve their health is to get more sleep. By developing a sleep pattern and going to bed at the same time every night, it helps the body to get in the habit of sleeping and waking at particular times. It will become less difficult to fall asleep, resulting in more rest and adequate functioning of all essential bodily systems. Eight hours is the average recommended amount of time to sleep. This means if you go to bed at 11 pm, you shouldn’t be waking until at least 7 am. If you need to get up sooner for school or work, then bedtime needs to get adjusted accordingly.
Sleep is very important to the health and well-being of people of all ages. Adults and children alike require enough rest each night to be able to function properly and feel at their best throughout the day. Anyone currently feeling as though they aren’t getting enough sleep should start setting a sleep pattern and create a good sleep environment so it comes easier.