Snooze Your Way to Better Health

The Importance of a Good Snooze

You may think you’re doing all the right things by eating right and exercising, but do you get a good snooze on at night? Science and data show that sleep is as important as exercising and a healthy diet. Most people underestimate the power of a good night’s rest. And it’s not just about the hours of sleeping but the quality and type of sleep you’re getting. There’s light sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) and deep sleep.

I bring this up being I was on a trip in Boston for my son’s graduation and I stayed at a Westin, which is known for their comfy beds, in Copley Square. The hotel was in the perfect location and had a view to die for. But what it didn’t offer was a good night snooze. I was already in a bit of an emotional state, but let me tell you, I am a monster without a good night’s rest. The hotel had maintenance happening near our room that woke us up three out of the seven nights of being there.

The Wellness Garden Tool Shed is all about wellness, mindfulness, and positive energy and that pretty much went out the window on my last chance to sleep in. After all, I am only human. The drilling and hammering started even earlier. With that all being said, we came home and my husband ended up catching Covid19 for the first time. I believe it was due to lack of sleep.

Try to Remember When You Were Last Sick

So far I haven’t had any symptoms and tested negative twice for Covid19, but I slept a little bit better than my husband. It made me think of when I was sick last, which was in the summer of 2009. I think it was the Swine Flue. 2009 was a stressful year due to the fact my mom died that year. I wasn’t getting much sleep, worrying and all. But before that the times I got sick in my adult life was right after having children.

You’re up all night to feed the baby and still have to work on top of that. I remember clearly crying over just about anything after 7:00 PM. My husband had a lot of patience then. I also got the flu soon after my son was born and had strep throat right after having my daughter.

At first I thought I didn’t get sick much as an adult because I was a sickly child. I had chronic ear infections, soar throats, and pretty much caught all the flu’s. We didn’t have flu shots in the olden days. But I was one of those children that didn’t nap much. I also stayed up later than I probably should have. I’m thinking I caught everything because my immune system was down from lack of sleep. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/04/good-sleep-good-health

Lack of a Good Snooze Can Affect Weight?

Lack of a good snooze is linked to weight gain. We all know the pounds are harder to take off especially for women during perimenopause and menopause. I’m wondering if the lack of sleep that comes along with those two has something to do with that. Hot flashes are one of the and I think main culprit of waking up all the time in the middle of the night. Let me tell you, I am having a very difficult time losing weight.

While you’re getting your snooze on hormones are being balanced. Therefor the lack of a good snooze sets these hormones off balance, increasing your appetite, and not for healthy foods. It lowers your drive to want to exercise, as well.

It’s kind of a catch 22, lack of sleep makes you gain weight and obesity makes it harder to sleep. Obesity can give some sleep apnea causing you to lose oxygen and quit breathing. So the type of sleep you’re getting is constantly interrupted resulting not a quality snooze. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/obesity-and-sleep

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Good Snooze

The next time you get on a scale or you get sick or if you’ve been a bit forgetful, ask yourself, “How much quality sleep am I really getting?” The Samsung watch, Apple watch, Fitbit, etc. will monitor your sleeping habits. REM sleep is important for your memory and learning. It’s the time you’re dreaming, usually when your first fall asleep and just before you wake up, but can occur more. Deep sleep is the most important of all. You will feel very well-rested after a deep snooze, but the real magic happens at this stage.

Your body releases hormones that repair your muscles, bones, and tissue. This helps your immune system to work at its best. It also helps with memory and brain health altogether. I know someone that has severe bipolar disorder, which really has screwed up their sleep when in a manic state. They had a sickness that non of the doctors could figure out. One conclusion that a doctor came up with was, that because of their highly unusual sleep pattern, it interrupted the time that their body could repair itself. They are still on the mend, but it’s been a rough and frustrating long road.

I’m at the stage in life where I really need to think about my health. I’ve seen my mother pass from cancer and my grandma pass from old age. Both are not fun. But if I can live to be as old as my grandma, a couple of weeks shy of 100yrs. and living on her own until 99 1/2 yrs old, I want my brain and body to hold up. I’ve been pretty lucky to be a good snoozer, but I was quickly reminded in Boston the importance of a good snooze.

Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.

Thomas Dekker

By Leah E. Reinhart