12:01
Monday 24 October 2022
agencies
Many face sleep problems, which affect the ability to carry out everyday practices, even simple ones, and affect the individual’s physical and mental health, over time, and therefore this can have serious consequences that can lead to premature death, according to Russia Today. .
There are several factors that cause sleep disturbances, including a bad pillow, as expert Karen Yu points out: “Sleeping with a bad pillow can increase the likelihood of waking up during the night, and this interrupted sleep can make us feel tired and lethargic in the night. in the short term, and has a major effect on our long-term health and well-being. “
Dr. Lynsday Browning elaborates on the health risks of poor sleep, saying, “Sleep is vital for longevity. When we sleep, our brains physically repair our bodies and regulate important hormones that control how our bodies work during sleep. day. In the long run, our bodies won’t repair themselves adequately overnight. “
Dr. Browning explained that good sleep is needed to “remove the buildup of amyloid plaques that can cause Alzheimer’s disease.”
“When we don’t get enough sleep, our brains don’t have time to do this physical brain cleansing,” he added.
Dr. Browning noted that lack of sleep is a risk factor for dementia. “Plus, if we don’t get enough sleep, our brains don’t regulate hunger-controlling hormones (ghrelin and leptin), which can lead to weight gain and obesity.”
Obesity itself is linked to many diseases, from hypertension to cancer.
Dr. Browning explained that sleeping less than seven hours a night is associated with an increased risk of death from all causes.
In other words, “you are more likely to die early for whatever reason than people who sleep seven to nine hours.”
“For all these reasons and more, regular nights of insomnia and interrupted sleep are not good for us,” Browning said.
Lack of sleep can negatively affect mood, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety.
How do you know if it’s time to get a new pillow?
Expert Karen Yu shares some of the signs of a need for a pillow change, including:
Pillows are designed to “promote healthy alignment of the head, neck and spine” and if you wake up with a stiff neck, headache and migraine, it could be a sign that your pillow needs a change.
When the pillow fails the “fold test”, which involves folding the pillow in half and holding it down for 30 seconds. When the pillow is released, it should return to its normal shape. If it does not get back in shape, it is recommended to change it.
Even a pillow that is lumpy or no longer soft and comfortable, or with bad smells, needs to be changed.
