Sleep: A Gateway to Ideal Health and Wellbeing
Perhaps you have once found yourself working on a task while nearing midnight. Or maybe you are deeply invested in a show you are watching and you notice it is unusually late. Whether this has happened to you at various times or occasionally, the impact that minimal sleep can have on someone can take a negative toll on one’s daily life and overall health. When further analyzing the 4 types of sleepers: Good sleepers, Weekend catch-up sleepers, Insomnia sleepers, and Nappers, one can better understand the grave importance sleep has on human functionality and how it can be harmful to be deprived of this human necessity.
Types of Sleepers
To gain a better understanding of how crucial sleep is in our everyday lives, it is necessary to define the four types of sleepers. The following are the four types of sleepers based on their sleep habits:
- Good sleepers – They have optimal sleep habits. These individuals have regular sleep patterns and tend to sleep for about 7-8 hours per night. They usually wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
- Weekend catch-up sleepers – They have irregular sleep patterns, and short sleep duration during the week, but longer sleep hours on weekends or non-workdays. These individuals tend to sacrifice their sleep during weekdays because of work and other commitments but compensate for it by sleeping more on weekends.
- Insomnia sleepers – They have sleep problems related to clinical insomnia symptoms, including short sleep duration, high daytime tiredness, and a long time to fall asleep. These individuals struggle to fall asleep at night, and as a result, they tend to wake up feeling tired and groggy.
- Nappers – They mostly have good sleep but take frequent daytime naps. These individuals tend to take short naps during the day to refresh themselves. They usually sleep well at night and wake up feeling refreshed.
Sleeping Habits and Their Effects
According to statistics, a significant percentage of the American population experiences difficulties sleeping at night or compensates for lack of sleep by taking regular naps. People suffering from insomnia, commonly known as “insomnia sleepers,” are particularly vulnerable to chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. Teaching people about sleep hygiene is important to improve overall health. It can help establish a regular sleep pattern, reduce the risk of sleep-related health problems, and promote well-being.
Research has revealed that more than half of the participants exhibited poor sleep patterns, either as insomnia sleepers or nappers. Insomnia sleepers have difficulty falling or staying asleep, while nappers take naps during the day.
Furthermore, the study highlights that people tend to maintain their sleep patterns over the course of the 10 years. This pattern is particularly evident among insomnia sleepers and nappers. It is crucial to recognize that such a study mainly includes healthy adults and may not accurately represent the entire population. Nevertheless, most participants displayed poor insomnia sleeper or napper sleep patterns. The study emphasizes the significance of getting adequate sleep and maintaining good sleep patterns to promote overall health and well-being.
Conclusion
It is needless to say that getting enough quality sleep is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. As previously analyzed, studies have shown that poor sleep increases the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. To maintain good health, one must prioritize healthy sleep habits like getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night, establishing a regular sleep schedule, and creating a sleep-conducive environment. Your body will surely thank you.
Bibliography
News, N. (2024, March 12). Distinct Sleep Patterns Linked to Health Outcomes. Neuroscience News. https://neurosciencenews.com/sleep-patterns-health-outcomes-25748/
