How long do we need to sleep for?
Sleep is our body’s way of repairing and recovering from the rigours we put it through every day, and just as we are all different, our sleep requirements also differ from individual to individual. Some people require six hours – where as others may need nine hours – but the experts say eight and a quarter hours is the average requirement.
Although we think that sleep is a passive activity, research has shown that our brains are very active during the sleep cycle with some parts actually using more glucose and oxygen than when we are awake.
What if I don’t get enough sleep?
A lack of good sleep makes us more susceptible to unpleasant stimuli such as pain, and this has the negative effect of increasing our perception of pain, creating a vicious cycle.
If you are suffering with pain or anxiety or recovering from any number of other conditions Soft Tissue Therapy (Remedial Massage) can assist in relieving your pain and therefore help to promote an improved sleep cycle for you.
Symptoms of poor sleep
We are all aware of the connection between good sleep and our mental health. How many times have you heard, “Well, you got out of the wrong side of the bed today!” This shows us that we do recognise the correlation between good sleep and mental health. Signs of poor sleep include:
- Restlessness
- Moodiness
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
Many studies around the world have shown that those who do suffer with poor mental health also have poor and disturbed sleep patterns. It is not yet clear whether poor sleep patterns is a cause of poor mental health or vice versa.
How can you reduce the effects of poor sleep?
Having regular massage to reduce the amount of physical tension the body is carrying will also lead to reduced mental stress and tension. This will bring with it a much better sleep cycle so you will meet those daily obstacles that life continually throws at us with a clearer mind-set and improved health!
