This is World Sleep Awareness Week, which seeks to draw people’s attention to the importance of sleeping well.
This year’s theme is “Sleep is essential for health” and, according to Luciano Drager, cardiologist and president of the Brazilian Sleep Association, there are several points that should be highlighted.
A CNN Radio in the Medical Correspondent, he explained that “sleep well is when you have regular quantity and quality”, suitable for the individual.
This can be determined, according to the doctor, when the person does not postpone going to bed, and is not distracted by television or social networks.
“The body says it needs to sleep and the person, when waking up, has the feeling of being invigorated, ready for activities, these are indications that the number is adequate.”
The average for an adult is 7 to 8 hours. However, there are factors other than hours of sleep, such as snoring or apnea, that are indicative of sleep disorders.
The expert argues that most people who sleep 5 hours or less are sleep deprived, although it is not a one-size-fits-all rule.
The few hours of sleep, over a long period, bring consequences “beyond the poor quality of life.”
“There could be cognition problems, dementia, an increased tendency towards depression and suicide, as well as cardiometabolic issues and cardiovascular disease.”
catch up sleep
Luciano Drager also explained the concept of “catch up sleep”, which is nothing more than trying to compensate for the lack of hours of sleep in the week, for example, on Saturday and Sunday.
“There’s evidence that it doesn’t reset or restructure, relative to getting the right number of hours of sleep.”
However, he points out that, although “the ideal world is to have a regular sleep pattern”, there are “metabolic benefits” of sleeping longer when possible.
“Sleep is not a waste of time, it is a fundamental phase for memory, immunity, rest of the muscles, all essential for life”.
*Produced by Isabel Campos
Source: CNN Brasil
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