Insomnia is a condition that describes difficulty sleeping. This condition can include difficulty falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, waking up frequently during the night (fragmented sleep), and / or waking up very early in the morning. This difficulty in sleeping causes the person to not feel rested and during the day have difficulties with daily activities.
Insomnia can not only sap your energy and mood, it can also affect your health, job performance and quality of life.
How many hours of sleep are enough?
It varies from person to person, but most people need 7-8 hours a night.
At some point, many experience short-term insomnia, lasting a few days or a few weeks. It is usually due to stress or a traumatic event. But some people have long-term insomnia that lasts for a month or more. Insomnia may be the main problem or it may be associated with other conditions.
You don't have to endure nights and nights without sleep. Simple changes in your habits can often help.
Harmful consequences of insomnia for your health
If you constantly fail to get enough hours of rest, this can have serious negative effects on your life and your health. Here you will find 10 harmful consequences for your health:
- Lack of concentration and impaired ability to think clearly the next day.
- Severe headaches
- Accelerates and promotes premature aging and predisposition to age-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.
- Changes in brain activity similar to those experienced by people with psychiatric disorders.
- Affection to your immune system.
- Triggering memory leak.
- Disorders such as: constipation, depression, stomach ulcers.
- Low tolerance to stress. For the same daily events you experience more exacerbated and angry reactions.
- Greater possibility of weight gain and more predisposition to obesity.
- It makes you anxious.
Good habits that help you with insomnia
The good sleep habits they can help prevent insomnia and promote sound sleep. Although sleep problems can have many causes, We give you some keys to invest in good hours of sleep and acquire habits that help you achieve it:
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, try to include weekends.
- Get physically active, regular activity promotes better sleep.
- Check your medications to see if they can contribute to insomnia.
- Avoid or limit naps.
- Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, and try to cut down on nicotine.
- Avoid large meals and drinks before going to bed.
- Make your bedroom a comfortable place.
- Perform a ritual that relaxes you before sleeping, such as a warm bath, reading or listening to soft music, drinking a tea that relaxes you.
Getting good quality sleep is a must. We must not underestimate its importance to our health, longevity and quality of life.. Apply these good habits in your day to day to get those good hours of sleep.
