There is an International Women’s Day, a World No Tobacco Day or a World Health Day. Did you know, that there is also a day for sleep? The World Sleep Day takes place on March 16th. With the actions on this day, the World Association of Sleep Medicine wants to draw attention to the importance of healthy sleep. This year’s slogan is: ‘Join the Sleep World, Preserve Your Rhythms to Enjoy Life.’
In the western industrial countries, we have lost our natural rhythms. With artificial lights we turn the nights into the day, smartphones and tablets support constant accessibility – just two examples that show how we ignore the natural rhythms of activity and rest. Sleep disturbances are inevitable. Here are some myths that might further disturb your sleep.
Eight hours of sleep are perfect
That’s not completely true. As different as we humans are as different is our sleep need. There are different influencing factors: age, genes, sleeping routine and health. One significant factor is our inner clock. Our inner clock is responsible for the biorhythms of our body, like the sleep-wake-cycle. About 90 per cent of all grown-ups sleep from seven to eight hours per night, a few people need more sleep, some less. But, not only the sleep duration is decisive for our physical regeneration – our sleeping quality is just as much.
The harder the underlay the better you sleep
That’s not true at all. Neither a too hard nor a too soft mattress are good for your sleep and your relaxation. The perfect sleeping underlay adapts to your body and reacts flexible. It enables your spine to take the same position as when standing in an upright position. An ideal orthopedic sleeping system (slat frame, natural rubber mattress and sheep wool overlay) relieves at pressure points. And, it gives support at pressure-free places.
Snoring is harmless
That’s correct. If you’re regularly and quietly snoring. Irregular, loud snoring is not only disturbing your partner’s sleep, it might also have negative consequences for yourself. Obstructive snoring leads to several arousals during the night; your phases of deep-sleep and REM-sleep become disturbed. This makes your sleep anything else but regenerative. And it becomes crucial when your snoring is accompanied by breathing stops, the so-called obstructive sleep-apnea-syndrome (OSAS). Both, obstructive snoring as well as sleep-apnea are a hazard to your health. The risk for high blood-pressure, diabetes II and cardiovascular diseases increases. Furthermore, serious cases might lead to a stroke or infarction.
Improve your sleeping quality
Especially a healthy lifestyle contributes to an improved sleeping quality. Besides a well-balanced nutrition, regular exercise and sports in fresh air as well as frequent breaks, sleep-hygienic measures are the key to a good sleeping quality. So, a healthy sleep surrounding, and a regular sleep-wake-cycle are important preconditions for a healthy, restful sleep that will restore your rhythms to enjoy life.