The Surprising Effects of our Surroundings on Sleep



Dr. William C. Dement once said, “We are not healthy unless our sleep is healthy, and we cannot make our sleep healthy unless we become thoroughly aware of both its peril and its promise”. Sleep is very important to our lives as it permits our brain to integrate our memory so that we can perform tasks more efficiently the next day. It is highly detrimental to compromise on getting a healthy fix of it, as sleep deprivation increases the risk of accidents (and can also take a toll on mental health by triggering mood swings). The development of good sleep habits is essential, and starts with adjusting the environment wherein you sleep.

Do you sleep with a night-light around? If you do, you may not know that while it may comfort you, it is detrimental to the quality of your sleep. Prolonged exposure to light can obstruct transitions between non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and REM sleep, reducing sleep quality. It can also result in frequent awakenings, interrupting or even disabling deep and restorative sleep. In addition to killing an estimate of millions, it also halts the production of melatonin, a hormone which causes drowsiness and stimulates sleep.

Ambient temperature also has a profound impact on sleep. Studies from 2012 have indicated that temperatures around 20.5°C promote the best sleep. This is because warm temperatures may cause irritation and restlessness which can hinder the quality and amount of sleep received as thermoregulation in the body. Room temperature affects body temperature, which can be associated with fatigue and decreased sleep. This is especially important for infants who are more sensitive and responsive to the temperatures in their surroundings. 

It is necessary to monitor the temperature of the area in which you sleep along with regulating the amount of light present. This can be done by closing the curtains and making sure there is no artificial light present. Temperature can be monitored by opening windows to promote ventilation and controlling fan and air conditioning usage whenever necessary.

Comments

  1. pranavMay 19, 2023 at 11:31 PM

    क्योंकि यह एक मिनियन का दिमाग है जो अंग्रेजी में टेलीविजन की ग्रेस देखता है, और एक मास्टर का दिमाग जो पोर्टुगीज में युवा शेल्डन को शान से देखता है

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