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When you sleep, the body rests and repairs itself. A
sleepdebtmay lead topoor healthandbeinggenerally
unproductive during the day.
Health
Do You Owe Your
Body Some Sleep?
W o r d s :
T r y m o r e M u n h e n g a
B
efore
the turn of the 18th
century, people went to
sleep much earlier and
slept much longer due to
the absence of industry.
The industrial revolution
brought about changes to
sleeping patterns. The invention of the light
bulb made it possible for work to be carried
out during the day and into the evening, a
huge change to what had been the norm.
It seems that continuous improvements to
our lives have gradually affected the quality
and quantity of sleep.
The amount of sleep a person needs
varies on the individual. Depriving oneself
of sleep creates a“sleep debt”, which is the
lack of sleep your body needs to repair itself.
Food and drink can affect your sleep.
Caffeinated drinks should be avoided a few
hours before bedtime. Alcohol consumption
should also be reduced to get quality sleep.
Alcohol gives you a light sleep, and experts
agree that a light sleep does not amount to a
good rest for the human body. The additives
and preservatives found in fast foods make
digestion harder, thus the body cannot rest
as it is still trying to break the food down, so
it is advisable to avoid these types of food
before bedtime.
Winding down
Unwinding and reflecting about your day
is a good thing to do before attempting to
go to sleep. It gives you the opportunity
to sort through things that are on your
mind, which means that your brain will
not be going into overdrive while you are
trying to shut down for the night. Talking
to someone about your day is also a great
way of winding down. Your thoughts and
concerns are then verbalised and not just
bouncing around in your head. This may
make things clearer and leave you with
peace of mind.
Danger zone
Studies done by experts have shown that
depriving yourself of sleep is dangerous.
Sleep deprived people were tested by using
a driving simulator and by performing
eye-hand coordination tasks. The results
showed that this group performed worse
than the test group who were intoxicated. If
sleep deprivation continues, hallucinations
and mood swings may develop. A lack of
sleep can also cause confusion, frustration,
or depression. Instead of ending up in this
state, change the way you look at sleep and
get a good night’s rest.