Doctors and health professionals have recommended that adults get approximately eight hours of sleep each night for decades. We’ve all heard about how a good day starts with a good night’s rest but is it that important? Is sleep such a crucial factor in a person’s quality of life?

Let’s explore the importance of good sleep and how our hormones play a crucial role in sleep quality.

Sleep Quality and Health

Sleep gives the body time to rest, restore, and recharge, especially the brain. The brain stores information and removes waste products during sleep; the body repairs cells and tissues and replenishes energy levels.

As such, even a night of poor sleep leads to interruptions in these processes, which can leave a person feeling sleepy throughout the day, irritable, anxious, and unable to concentrate as well as usual. 

A month of poor sleep quality can have a lasting impact on a person’s physical and mental health and cognitive capabilities.

Long-term sleep issues can contribute to a slew of serious health problems, including reduced immune function, high blood pressure, chronic exhaustion, and increased weight gain. 

Sleep Quality & Hormone Levels

Hormone health is closely related to sleep quality, and hormonal imbalances can contribute to disturbed sleep.

For example, hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can make it to where an individual is either chronically exhausted and wants to sleep all the time or anxious and unable to sleep long enough to feel rested.

On the other hand, poor sleep that isn’t the result of a hormonal imbalance can cause an imbalance to occur if the issue persists. Lack of sleep can trigger the production of stress hormones, which raises cortisol levels and leads to unwanted weight gain. 

Additionally, stress hormones can affect the heart by increasing blood pressure and heart rate, making it work harder than necessary to supply the body with blood.

If you find yourself tired, irritable, and unable to concentrate during the day, poor sleep quality is likely a contributor to your current condition. 

Taking simple steps like following a sleep schedule, winding down before bed, avoiding coffee and alcohol in the evening, and laying down in an ideal environment can help improve sleep quality. 

However, if you’ve done your best to grant yourself decent sleep, only to continue feeling exhausted during the day, you may want to speak to a doctor. Reach out to R2 Medical Clinic to schedule an evaluation with us. Our providers will pinpoint the cause of your sleep issues and help you optimize your health.