Now that I’m in my 30s, my sleep patterns have changed so drastically that “sleeping in” means waking up by 8 a.m., and I’m lucky if I only have to use the bathroom once in the middle of the night. It’s also difficult for me to fall asleep without tossing and turning for at least an hour before finally dozing off. After discussing my own sleep situation with my close friends and family, I learned that these sleep issues are more common than I thought. So I went to two New York–based sleep experts and medical professionals to get a clearer insight about the importance of quality sleep, and how it—and the lack of it—impacts our overall health.
Why It’s So Hard to Fall Asleep—and Stay Asleep
As we get older, there are many reasons why we can’t fall asleep as easily as we used to. To get a better understanding of this familiar topic, we spoke with Janet Kennedy, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist at NYC Sleep Doctor who specializes in treating sleep disorders. While I’m certainly guilty of late-night scrolling and online shopping from time to time, I’ve noticed that even the blaring blue light from my TV has begun to impact the quality of my sleep. RELATED: 5 Things You Should Never Do Before Going to Bed According to The Philips 2019 global sleep survey, worry and stress were the number-one lifestyle factors cited for impacting participants’ ability to fall asleep and/or sleep well. Another survey conducted by Well+Good found the same thing: Participants named stress (over everything from money to work to family and relationship issues) as the leading cause for their sleeplessness. RELATED: 7 Physical Signs You’re More Stressed Out Than You Realize RELATED: 10 Ways to Keep Cool When It’s Too Hot to Sleep She also mentions that creating a bedtime routine can be extremely beneficial. “Try to create a 30-minute ritual before bed like reading a book, journaling, or meditation.” (We’re also fans of taking a warm bath or shower an hour before bed, or try a gentle, nightly stretching routine to wind down.) If you’re often woken up from night sweats, it may be worth investing in some temperature-conscious bedding and cooling sleepwear, in addition to keeping your bedroom at a chill, National Sleep Foundation–recommended 67 degrees to promote Zzzs.
Why Getting Enough Sleep Is Essential to Your Overall Health
For children and adults, getting the right amount of good quality sleep is imperative for both mental and physical health: Your mental health, mood, immune system, memory, focus, productivity, energy, appetite, heart health, and even life longevity can all falter without adequate nightly rest. The general sleep recommendation for adults, according to The National Sleep Foundation, is between 7 and 9 hours per night, but it can differ from person to person. “People with chronic sleep disorders are at higher risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and depression,” says Edward Fisher, MD, PhD, MPH, a member of the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at NYU School of Medicine. “This means that some of the diseases that cause sleep disorders can become worse from poor quality or quantity of sleep in a vicious cycle.” If you feel like you may have a sleep disorder like chronic insomnia or sleep apnea, Dr. Fisher suggests discussing it with your doctor. “He or she may be able to begin treatment, or, if not, can recommend you to specialized sleep centers,” he says. “They have the advanced testing equipment and medical professionals needed to accurately diagnose and treat a variety of sleep disorders.”
