We spend one-third of our lives sleeping. Sleeping is essential because this is how the body repairs and recharges itself. However, sleep can be a luxury for people with busy lifestyles. If you’re one of these people, you might not be getting the most out of your workouts when you go to the gym.
People who lack sleep most likely fail to complete their workout routines and tend to be exhausted just after a few reps. Moreover, lack of sleep can be detrimental to your overall health and well-being in the long run. This may also lead to further sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea.
This article will discuss the effects of poor sleeping patterns on your health and some of the possible causes behind it.
Effects Of Poor Sleeping Patterns In Health And Fitness
Lack of sleep can have adverse effects on your physical health and the ability to perform strenuous physical activities. Here are some of the effects of having poor sleep quality:
You Will Develop Certain Diseases
Poor sleep is most likely the effect of having an unbalanced lifestyle. Your body deteriorates everyday without proper sleep—your cells won’t have time to recharge and this, in turn, will weaken vital parts of your body. This is the reason why young children are encouraged to sleep at least eight hours a day, so they won’t run the risk of getting ill. For adults, it is advised to sleep at least six hours a day.
The lack of a proper sleep schedule is linked to an increased risk of acquiring the following diseases:
- Chronic diseases
- Cancer
- Heart diseases
- Stroke
Once you develop these diseases, your fitness level will also decrease, causing you to have a more difficult time working out.
You Will Lose Focus
Lack of sleep also results in fatigue. A fatigued mind and body will cause challenges in performing daily activities and physical fitness routines. When you feel sleepy most of the time, this is a tell-tale sign that you lack the oxygen necessary for full brain function. The lack of focus also hampers your ability to perform certain tasks, including your workout routines.
Losing Weight Becomes More Difficult
Not sleeping under the recommended hours can cause you to gain weight. It also affects your metabolism. Metabolism plays a crucial function in the body, and that is to process food into simpler compounds that can be used for re-synthesizing nutrients and energy.
Aside from that, when you’re sleep-deprived, your metabolism will be out of balance—you tend to crave more sweets and carbohydrates. This is the reason why sleep deprivation is a risk factor for obesity in adults.
It Affects Your Mood
Poor sleep quality will result in irritability, emotional outbursts, short temper, lessened productivity, and overall poor psychological health. It also leads to more severe medical conditions like depression and anxiety—causing detrimental effects on one’s mental and physical health.
Not having adequate motivation to exercise will eventually affect your physical health. You’ll tend to find comfort in fatty and sugary foods just to satisfy your cravings. Physical health is directly linked to emotional health. Hence, maintaining a balanced sleep schedule is important for improved well-being.
Main Causes Of Poor Sleeping Pattern
There are several reasons why you can’t get the right amount of sleep every night. You may be experiencing too much stress, anxiety, and other similar conditions. Here are some of the major causes of poor sleeping patterns that you should look out for:
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a fairly common sleep disorder in adults. It involves pauses in breathing while one is sleeping. This can happen several times a day, but some people are more susceptible to it. Sleep apnea occurs mostly when you’re lying on your back with an open mouth.
Moreover, sleep apnea can affect your health and fitness in several ways. First of all, when your breathing during night-time is interrupted, you won’t be getting the rest you need. This can cause you to feel exhausted during the day. You might even find yourself falling asleep in places that you don’t normally fall asleep in, like at work or while you’re driving. Thus, sleep apnea also makes you susceptible to danger. At this point, you need to go to the doctor for proper treatment.
Chronic Stress
Excessive stress can lead to several health problems, including insomnia. The inability to sleep is the result of the body’s failure to adjust to unusual levels of stress. It may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, such as a rise in cortisol (abundance of adrenaline), or a chemical imbalance (e.g., abnormal rise in dopamine levels). In chronic cases of insomnia caused by stress, it is important to try and relax as much as possible.
Chronic Pain
Another common cause of insomnia is chronic pain. Some forms of pain are temporary, such as migraines. However, more permanent pain such as fibromyalgia (a disease that affects millions of Americans) can interfere with a person’s ability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Because chronic pain often involves inflammation, relaxing the affected muscles can help promote a good night’s sleep.
Sleep and fitness go hand in hand
Exercise is important—but to get the most out of it, you need to sleep well. Sleep is the body’s most powerful and efficient healing tool. When you work out, you are ripping down some muscles, thus, a good night’s sleep is needed to repair them.
Poor sleep not only affects one’s performance levels at work, but also has an extremely detrimental effect on your physical health. Lack of sleep can also lead to a compromised immune system. An impaired immune system affects your body’s ability to fight against other diseases, such as flu and other viruses.
If you’re wondering why you’re not getting the most out of your workout routine, you need to reevaluate your sleeping patterns. You should determine the symptoms and pay your physician a visit for the appropriate remedy or treatment.