How Poor Sleep Affects the Brain: Choosing the Best Mattress for Good Sleep
An average adult needs at least 7 hours of sleep each night. But less than 50% of Young Adults sleep well, according to IndiaFit Report 2022–2023. Often, the culprit is staying up late for Netflix, social media, or work. There’s another reason many people fail to realize—not sleeping on the best quality mattress.
Lack of sleep has an adverse impact on a person’s physical health, with weight gain, dark circles, or baggy eyes being the most known of all. But did you know it also takes a toll on your brain and its functioning?
Sleep, often underrated, is as crucial for our brains as the food we eat and the water we drink, fueling cognitive function, emotional stability, and overall vitality. Yet, many people don’t pay attention to getting enough hours of sleep each night.
Let’s see how lack of sleep can negatively impact your brain and how you can improve sleep quality to ensure you sleep through the night without interruption.
Cognitive Rollercoaster
When you’re sleep-deprived, you tend to stumble through the day with a foggy mind. Research shows that lack of sleep isn’t just about feeling groggy; it’s a full-blown assault on your cognitive abilities.
Studies reveal that insufficient sleep messes with your attention span, memory, and decision-making skills. It’s like trying to navigate through a maze blindfolded. Researchers have also linked the cognitive impairments caused by sleep deprivation to those seen in individuals with ADHD. So, the next time you’re tempted to pull an all-nighter for whatever reason, think twice about the mental rollercoaster ride awaiting you.
Emotional Rollercoaster
Ever notice how a lack of sleep turns you into a grumpy, irritated human? There’s science behind it. Sleep is the conductor of our emotional health, keeping our feelings in harmony. But when sleep is disrupted, emotions run wild.
Studies reveal that sleep-deprived individuals become more reactive to negative emotions, like a fuse waiting to blow. Your brain’s emotional control center goes haywire, leading to heightened irritability, mood swings, and stress levels. You are also more likely to overreact and feel less excited about things you like. This can hamper your relationship with others.
The Dark Side of Neurology
You probably didn’t know this, but chronic sleep deprivation, whether caused by social media or a poor mattress, could be paving the way for neurological nightmares. Research links sleep deprivation to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease in the later stage of life. These aren’t just distant fears; they could be lurking in the shadows of sleepless nights.
Research suggests that disrupted sleep patterns hinder the brain’s ability to clear out toxins, setting the stage for neurodegeneration. Think of it as leaving trash piled up in your brain, inviting trouble to take root. And the longer you neglect your sleep, the more you’re playing with fire, risking irreversible damage to your neurological fortress.
Disconnecting the Dots
Ever wondered how sleep affects the intricate web of connections within your brain? Functional imaging studies reveal that sleep deprivation throws a wrench into the gears of your brain’s communication system. Without sufficient sleep, your brain becomes a bustling city with roads blocked and signals jammed. Parts of the brain responsible for memory, creativity, and problem-solving struggle to communicate, leading to cognitive glitches and mental hiccups.
Metabolic Mayhem
Sleep deprivation doesn’t just mess with your brain; it wreaks havoc on your metabolism, too. When you stay up late most nights, your body’s finely tuned balance of hunger and fullness spiral out, leaving you reaching for sugary snacks and fatty treats. And the chances are you may have binged on snacks at 3am when sleep was out of the picture.
And that’s not all – sleep deprivation disrupts glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, increasing the chances of developing type-2 diabetes and obesity. It sets off a metabolic time bomb, ticking away until the explosion of health complications.
Top Reasons why you are not sleeping enough
Poor Mattress Quality
When it comes to sleep quality, a mattress is one unsuspecting element that most people overlook. Studies suggest that the quality of your mattress has a tremendous impact on the quality of your sleep.
If you find yourself constantly waking up with aches and pains, your mattress might be to blame. An old, sagging mattress can wreck your sleep quality, causing discomfort and disrupting your sleep cycle. But how do you choose a mattress?
To make sure your mattress doesn’t prevent you from having much-needed sleep each night, invest in the best quality mattress that fits your comfort preferences and sleeping position. Also, replace your worn-out mattresses as soon as you notice signs of deterioration.
Blue Light
In this digital age, screens reign supreme. But they also have a dark side: blue light. The screens of our smartphones, tablets, and laptops emit blue light, suppressing the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. So, that late-night scrolling session is not doing your sleep any favors. Try to cut down on your screen time, especially right before going to bed.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety not only wreak havoc on your mental well-being but also sabotage our sleep. Racing thoughts, worries, and to-do lists can keep us tossing and turning for hours on end. Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or journaling into your bedtime routine can help soothe the mind and promote better sleep.
Caffeine
Who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee in the morning? But when consumed in excess, it can disrupt our sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. Thanks to the caffeine present in it. A good idea is to curb your caffeine intake, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Opt for decaf or herbal tea in the evenings to ensure a smoother transition into dreamland.
Irregular Sleep Schedule
Our brain loves routine, especially when it comes to sleep. Erratic sleep schedules, such as staying up late on weekends, can throw our internal clock out of order, leading to sleep deprivation and groggy mornings. You should aim for consistency by sticking to a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends, to help regulate your body’s internal clock and optimize your sleep quality.
How to choose a mattress for good sleep
If your poor mattress quality is hindering your sleep quality, you should consider buying Sleepwell’s Nexa Luxury Mattress. Why? Because it is one of the few mattresses that promotes uninterrupted sleep, owing to its remarkable features. It boasts superior back support, excellent air circulation, premium top plush feel, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal technology, and eight support layers for a deep, rejuvenating sleep experience. What’s more, it comes with seven years of warranty, ensuring you peace of mind that your investment will be worthwhile.
In a nutshell
Poor sleep quality can affect anyone—the young and old, the busy and the laid-back alike. However, if you can identify and address why you are not able to sleep through the nightful, you can reclaim your right to a restful slumber.
Start with paying attention to your mattress quality, as it’s one of the reasons that slips through the crack. If you think your mattress is the culprit, invest in the best mattress for sleep.
If your sleep deprivation is caused by excessive screen time, stress and anxiety, caffeine overload, and irregular sleep schedules, make necessary lifestyle changes to overcome these issues and ensure yourself an interrupted sleep every night.