Good Night, Sleep Tight--Or Not?

Are you getting the sleep you need? We spend one-third of our lives asleep. From infancy to adulthood, the amount of sleep we get largely determines our happiness, health, and well-being. In fact, sleep deprivation can be more harmful than most people think. It carries both short and long-term consequences that can negatively impact one’s quality of life. Human beings are the only mammals who willingly delay sleep, so this is a unique issue for us. Let’s begin by identifying whether you might be sleep-deprived--it’s more common that most people realize--then we will outline possible consequences, and finally, we’ll offer solutions to help you achieve a better night’s sleep.

Are You Sleep Deprived? If it takes you less than five minutes to fall asleep at night, you may be suffering from sleep deprivation. Most healthy adults should take 10-15 minutes to fall asleep. In fact, if you regularly fall asleep within five minutes of your head hitting the pillow, it’s likely that you are severely sleep deprived and may even be suffering from a sleep disorder. Are you finding that your brain is functioning at full capacity? Sleep-deprived individuals show more impulsive behavior, less creative thought and words, forgetfulness, and increased clumsiness. You may also feel hungrier throughout the day as your lack of sleep affects two key hormones in your body, leptin and ghrelin, both of which help regulate appetite.

Possible Consequences Many of the warning signs of sleep deprivation are also things that impact your everyday quality of life. Coming down with illnesses more often could be a sign, and this is something that not only negatively impacts how you feel, but also leads to more missed work and deadlines. Losing sleep affects not only your physical health but your mental well-being also, as you may find yourself more emotional about little things. Lack of sleep impacts the functioning of your amygdala, the part of your brain that regulates emotions and processes fear and anxiety. Studies have shown that individuals suffering from lack of sleep have decreased functioning and communication from the amygdala to the rest of the brain, leaving them unable to determine appropriate emotional responses to a range of negative events. Short-term effects include memory impairment, decreased performance, and possible automobile injury. Long-term effects can be more serious and include high blood pressure, obesity, depression, ADD, and more. In fact, studies have shown an increasing mortality rate for those who report getting less than six or seven hours of sleep a night.

Making a Change for More Restful Nights The fact is that a better night’s sleep will happen when you are comfortable. A person’s individual comfort includes many factors, including the temperature of the room, proper air circulation, the right amount of covers or blankets, and a supportive mattress.

At Bel Furniture, we recognize that comfort means different things to different people, and this is why we’re pleased to offer a wide variety of mattresses through the Bel Mattress Company. We carry all sizes, from twin to king, and selections for all levels of comfort, from firm to memory foam. We even beds that have an adjustable foundation. Our Presidents Day Sale features a special buy one, get one free deal on Sealy Gel Posturepedic Mattresses. This is a fantastic chance to get new mattresses for the whole family, ensuring everyone is happy, healthy, and performing to the best of their abilities.

The sale is for a limited time only, so come in to shop today. You can also shop online 24/7 with our clickable insert.