It has always been said that sleeping well is one of the key ingredients to good health and a good quality of life. But what happens when, although it takes hours to sleep, we cannot get a good rest? According to a study published this Wednesday in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, people who report the worst quality of sleep are also those who report the worst levels of health, prosperity, happiness and overall life satisfaction.
The research analyzes more than 5,000 surveys between 2018 and 2020 by researchers from Charles University in Prague. Through these questionnaires, educated people were asked about the types of dreams (such as the quantity and quality of hours, as possible “jet lag”) and about different parameters of health and personal satisfaction (such as levels of happiness and subjective success). From there, experts were given the opportunity to see if there was any relationship between sleep and good health.
“Better sleep is a better quality of life”
The analysis showed that one of the things that most affect the personal health of people is the quality of sleep (and not just the number of hours of rest or the time of rest itself). “Better sleep means a better quality of life. While it makes a difference when we sleep and how long we sleep, people who have better quality sleep also have a better quality of life, regardless of the time and period of sleep,” emphasizes the researchers. experts in the analysis published this Wednesday.
The study did not find a link between so-called “jet lag” sleep (or “social jetlag”) and quality of life indicators. In other words, those who, due to work or routine use, had to rest at unusual hours (such as during the day or at dawn) did not have worse health symptoms or exhibited better health than those who slept more conventional hours.. Nor was a clear relationship observed between these environments and work stress, which is why, according to the researchers, people are capable of adapting to any sleep routine as long as they can rest well.
problems not sleeping
It’s not the first time the study has shown problems with the police. In fact, analyzes of hundreds of studies have been published. Long-term wakefulness, and poor rest, has been associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. It also directly affects mood disorders such as anxiety or depression. At least the remaining lack of attention, attention and memory problems are therefore also related to worse work and academic performance.
Lack of sleep causes health problems and social isolation
Sleep also causes social difficulties. According to a study in the journal “Nature Communication”, for example, the lack of quiet hours causes social isolation. “The less sleep you get, the less you want social interaction. In turn, if you don’t sleep, others perceive you as more socially repulsive, further increasing the serious attitude of social isolation related to sleep loss,” emphasizes the research.
In Spain, according to data from the Spanish Society of Neurology, at least twelve million people say they wake up tired or with the feeling of not resting well. In addition, it is estimated that at least four million people suffer from insomnia or long-term sleep disorders such as circadian rhythm disorders, restless legs syndrome, parasomnias or narcolepsy.
