In today’s busy, hyper-caffeinated world, getting adequate, quality sleep can feel a bit out of reach. While it might not seem like skipping out on sleep is too big of a deal, not getting enough shut-eye can have a serious impact on a person’s stress levels, hormones, and overall health.
Why is sleep important?
Sleep is an essential function that allows the body and mind to rest, repair, and recharge. It may seem like nothing is happening when a person is sleeping, however, the brain and body are actually hard at work overseeing a wide variety of biological upkeep.
“Sleep is connected to every area of health,” said Dr. John Fulginiti, a surgeon who specializes in wound care and integrative medicine. “It supports a strong immune system, lowers inflammation, encourages good mental health, and allows people to stay alert and energetic throughout the day.”
One study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that just one partial night’s sleep could create insulin resistance, opening the door to diabetes and other health issues. Other studies show that a lack of quality sleep contributes to cardiovascular disease, mood disorders, poor immune function, and lower life expectancy.
The relationship between sleep and stress
According to Dr. Fulginiti, stress and sleep exist on a two-way street. Just as a lack of sleep can be a source of stress, a stressful day (or month) can keep people up at night.
It’s normal to feel stressed occasionally, but chronic feelings of stress can cause the nervous system to maintain a heightened state of arousal for extended periods of time.
“Being in a chronic stress state not only negatively impacts physical and mental health in and of itself, but it also increases sleep deprivation, which causes more stress and more health issues, and on and on it goes. It becomes a vicious cycle,” said Dr. Fulginiti.
The relationship between sleep and hormones
Similar to the relationship between sleep and stress, hormones and sleep also operate on a two-way street. Hormonal changes can wreak havoc on sleep and sleep deprivation can affect hormone levels.
Hormones control just about everything from growth to muscle tone and mass to mood, and even sexual function, just to name a few things. Many important hormones are released during sleep, and when a person is not getting enough Z’s, hormone levels can become unbalanced, leading to issues throughout the body.
For example, when a person is sleep-deprived, their prolactin levels may become unbalanced, leading to a weakened immune system, difficulty concentrating, and carbohydrate cravings during the day.
Addressing a lack of sleep
Although sleep is a basic human need, one in three adults don’t get enough. The average adult should be getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night. While it might sometimes seem like getting a good sleep in today’s busy world is impossible, sleep can be improved by adopting good sleep hygiene and healthy habits.
“When it comes to improving a patient’s sleep, I take a holistic approach by addressing all potential contributing factors such as diet, nutrient deficiencies, exercise, mood, hormones, gut health, sleep hygiene, and stress,” said Dr. Fulginiti. “As a patient’s health improves, their sleep improves, and as their sleep improves, their health continues to improve. In this case, we create a positive cycle.”
Working with an integrative practitioner
While getting poor sleep might seem like a regular part of life, it shouldn’t be—and it doesn’t have to be. By working with an integrative doctor, patients can address the root causes of their sleep issues, opening the door for the deep, restorative sleep they need and deserve.
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