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How Does Poor Sleep Hygiene Affect Daily Life?

Most people know that long-term sleep deprivation can take a brutal toll on one’s health. However, even mild amounts of sleep deprivation can disrupt an individual’s ability to perform most day-to-day tasks. Understanding the ways that poor sleep hygiene can affect your daily life should help you commit to working toward a better and healthier sleep cycle, which will have a huge positive benefit on every aspect of your life. If you have poor sleep hygiene, take a look at this guide that illustrates how it will affect your daily life.

 

What is Sleep Hygiene?

Sleep hygiene refers to the daily sleep habits that make up your day-to-day sleep routine. Over time, maintaining consistently poor sleep hygiene can profoundly impact an individual’s mental and physical health.

 

How Does Poor Sleep Hygiene Affect Daily Life?

There are many negative impacts associated with consistently poor sleep hygiene. If left unchecked for extended periods, these impacts can result in severe health consequences. The negative impacts of poor sleep hygiene include:

  • Mood changes
  • Reduced immune system functioning
  • Weight gain
  • Impaired ability to function day-to-day
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Irritability

In addition to the daily impacts of the above conditions, long-term sleep deprivation can contribute to the development of severe health conditions. The following have been connected to a lack of healthy sleep:

  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Mental health issues

The above conditions can create significant disruptions to an individual’s daily life and lead to an individual needing further medical care to assist with coping.

 

How Much Sleep Do I Need?

How much sleep an individual needs will depend on that specific individual. That being said, there are daily sleep averages that apply to most individuals depending on age group:

  • Infant: 12-16 hours
  • Toddler: 11-14 hours
  • Child: 9-12 hours
  • Teen: 8-10 hours
  • Adult: 7 hours

One’s daily lifestyle and occupation can also influence how much sleep someone will need.

 

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

There are many different causes of sleep deprivation. Our busy and connected world can often make it difficult to achieve a consistent sleep schedule. Some of the major contributors to a lack of sleep are:

  • Full schedules
  • Stress
  • Environmental interference
  • Medical conditions
  • Medication side-effects
  • Mental health issues

Beyond these influences, individuals who have consistent sleep issues may be facing an undiagnosed sleep disorder. Especially disruptive sleep disorders, such as insomnia, make it nearly impossible for an individual to achieve a healthy sleep schedule without some management or medical intervention. A qualified sleep professional will be able to diagnose you with any hidden sleep disorders so you can begin the necessary treatment.

 

Preventing Poor Sleep Hygiene

There are several steps you can take to help prevent the development of poor sleep hygiene in your daily life. Steps you can take to improve your sleep include:

  • Preparing a daily bedtime and sticking to it
  • Limit your exposure to bright lights approximately two hours before going to bed
  • Attempt to limit stress in your day-to-day life
  • Limit the amount of caffeine you consume in a day
  • Time your naps so they will not interfere with your primary sleep schedule
  • Get plenty of regular exercise

Your sleep specialist may have additional advice about how you can positively impact your sleep cycle. They may need to observe your sleep habits over an extended period to ensure an accurate assessment of your sleep patterns.

 

What is the Right Treatment for Me?

The treatment that your sleep specialist develops for you will depend on the specific cause of your sleep deprivation. They may ask you questions during your consultation that will help them determine an appropriate treatment for you. Some commonly asked questions are:

  • What is your work life like?
  • What time do you typically go to bed?
  • Do you wake up frequently when you sleep?
  • Does your sleep schedule interfere with your daily life?

 

Your Friend in Sleep

Dr. Mayank Shukla is the head doctor at the Asthma & Sleep Institute in New York City. If you would like to speak to someone who can help you get better regular sleep, contact Dr. Shukla today.

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