The role of sleep for a healthy life is as important as a balanced diet and regular exercise. Experts say that if a person sleeps less than 6 hours continuously, it can have serious negative consequences. Modern lifestyle, excessive use of smartphones and TV has affected the duration and quality of sleep.
According to neurologists and pulmonologists, lack of sleep has a negative impact on both the body and the brain, which can cause many health problems.
According to Dr. Madhukar Bhardwaj, continuous lack of sleep can lead to imbalance of many body parameters like blood pressure and sugar. Brain function is also affected, causing symptoms such as mental fatigue, decreased concentration and mood swings. The increased risk of heart attack in youth is also linked to lack of sleep and stress. Less sleep directly weakens the immune system and heart health.
Many people believe that the need for sleep decreases with age. Doctor Bhardwaj explains that the need remains the same, but the body becomes unable to get deep sleep. Even a 70 year old person requires about 7-8 hours of sleep. According to Dr. Sushruta Ganpule, the brain of the elderly is not able to produce enough sleep hormones, due to which the quality of sleep is affected.
Lack of sleep weakens the immune system, increases pressure on the heart and also affects the digestive system. Dr. Ganpule said that he has seen many patients controlling blood pressure and sugar through better sleep. Sleep is the cheapest and most effective medicine for the body, which keeps the heart, brain and other organs healthy.
Some people, like sages and saints, remain active even on less sleep, but these are exceptions. For other people, less than 6 hours of sleep is harmful. Short naps during the day can boost energy, but it cannot replace night sleep. Night sleep is essential for brain cleansing and body repair, so skipping it is harmful to health.
Lack of sleep also affects mental health in the long run. It can increase anxiety, depression and irritability. Lack of sleep weakens attention, learning ability and decision making ability. Additionally, productivity and reaction time in daily tasks is affected, making functioning difficult. Regular and adequate sleep is essential for both body and brain.
