Why sleep is such a winner

10 April 2012

One of the commonest reasons for consulting GPs is the complaint of "feeling tired all the time".

Patients are convinced that they have some biochemical imbalance or cancer. Doctors usually opt for more likely explanations such as stress, lifestyle and lack of sleep but hormonal imbalances are easier to treat than getting patients to change their lifestyle. Now a new study finds some teenagers get only four hours a night, and their school performance is suffering. So pupils are being given sleep lessons.

Poor sleep accounts for a lot of ill health and behavioural problems. No one has been able to really explain why we sleep. Some think it gives the body a chance to recover from the day's activities but we know sleep is essential to maintain normal skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking.

After just one night without sleep, concentration becomes harder and attention span shortens considerably. With continued lack of sleep, the part of the brain that controls language, memory, planning and sense of time is affected. It's been estimated that going 17 hours without rest leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to drinking two glasses of wine. Lack of sleep is said to have contributed to a number of disasters such as Exxon Valdez and Chernobyl.

Sleep deprivation also has a major impact on emotional and physical health including increasing stress, blood pressure levels and risk of heart disease. Studies find that when you lack sleep, you are more likely to make bad decisions. People who lack sleep are also more likely to become depressed. During sleep, the body produces hormones such as growth hormone and helps build muscle mass and repair cells and tissues in adults. These hormones also affect how the body uses energy. Studies find that the less people sleep, the more likely they are to be overweight or obese, to develop diabetes, and to prefer eating foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates.

There is no set amount of time that everyone needs to sleep. We all have different requirements. But must we devote whole lessons to it? Quantifying what is right for you isn't rocket science: the amount of sleep you require is that needed for you not to be sleepy in the daytime. Simple.

Follow me on Twitter @DoctorChristian

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