#Healing through sleep – a nature’s gift

Sleep is often viewed as a luxury rather than as a necessity in today's fast-paced world! But what if we told you that sleep is not just about rest but the foundation of health and longevity. Medical science agrees that sleep has far-reaching implications on one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 
 
In this article, Sleepwell has collaborated with the Indian Society for Sleep Research (ISSR) to emphasise the importance of sleep for healing. We look into views of ISSR from a medical science perspective about healing through sleep. 

The vital role of sleep 

In today’s 24/7 h society, the importance of sleep is often undermined, yet it is a cornerstone of health and longevity. Sleep is not only a mere state of rest and inactivity, but also a critical component of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being for all age groups across all life stages. Quality sleep is essential for our day-to-day physical and mental functioning. 
 
Research during the last 30 years has convincingly shown that lack of sleep has adverse effects on one’s life, resulting in chronic illnesses with a reduced lifespan. Recently, India is sleeping less, which is more observed in the growing adolescents.  
 
Great health begins with great sleep. In collaboration with top sleep experts from ISSR, Sleepwell shares insights on how quality sleep supports healing and overall well-being. 

Sleep as a mechanism for physical healing 

According to medical sciences, sleep is important for fixing your body and staying healthy overall. 

1) Physical repair and growth  

During sleep, your body undergoes repair and detoxification. A tiny gland in your brain called the pituitary gland secretes growth hormone, mostly during the N3 stage,  the deepest stage of sleep. This hormone helps fix tissues, grow muscles, and strengthen bones. This natural fixing process is needed to recover from injuries and the everyday wear and tear your body goes through.  
 
Here's what Dr. Hrudananda Mallick, President, Indian Society for Sleep Research (Former Professor of Physiology, Dr Baldev Singh Sleep Laboratory, AIIMS, New Delhi) says about sleep and healing: 
Sleep is a time for repair, restoration, and recovery. 
Sleep helps in brain repair reducing DNA damage. 
Sleep is the best painkiller. It is the best natural analgesic. A decrease in sleep quality adds to the risk of the onset of pain and exacerbates existing pain. Enough sleep can also help with pain by making you feel it less and be more comfortable, especially if you have wounds from surgery or a chronic health condition. 
 
The brain is the biggest beneficiary of sleep. Adequate sleep is essential for proper brain functioning like decision-making, executive function, sharper skill, and memory.  It helps better stress management. 
Sleep helps us to conserve energy.  
Short sleepers are more prone to develop high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and cardiac diseases. 
Sleep deprivation is a pro-inflammatory state. You are more prone to infection.  
It reduces recovery capacity. Blunts vaccine response. Sleep deprivation alters cytokines, antibodies, and leukocyte levels resulting in decreased body defence against infection. Good sleep reduces inflammation which helps you to heal faster. 
There's no replacement for sleep's natural healing power. Many physicians recommend getting enough sleep instead of relying on too many medications. Sleep is a key part of healing your whole body, something no medicine can completely take the place of. Sleep is medicine 

2) Immune function

 Sleep is important for your immune health! Your body makes cytokines. These cytokines battle infections and fight inflammation. If your sleep is inadequate, your cytokines level is down. You are more susceptible to infection.   Studies show if you sleep less than 7 hours a night, you are three times more likely to catch a cold. So sleep well, and improve your body’s natural immune system. 

3) Neurological health  

While you are sleeping, your brain gets refreshed for optimal productivity. Sleep makes memories stronger. During sleep, the brain gets rid of toxins that are collected while you are awake. This cleaning is vital because it helps to keep your brain healthy, and working well and reduces the risk of having memory problems like Alzheimer’s disease as you grow older. Sleep is a major contributor to mental and physical health outcomes. 

4) Hormonal balance  

Sleep deprivation leads to increased levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. It leads to overeating and obesity, decreases insulin secretion, and improves insulin resistance. Therefore short sleepers are more prone to obesity and diabetes mellitus II. Sleep is an independent factor for obesity.  So, regular sleep keeps your hormones happy and your body functioning smoothly. 

The role of sleeping surfaces in allopathic medicine  

Allopathic medicine acknowledges that good sleep contributes to health and the quality of sleeping surface matters Dr. Mallick says, a bad mattress leads to issues such as misalignment of your spine, body pressure points, and difficulty dozing off. The distress caused by this exacerbates pre-existing disorders, for instance, back pain or arthritis, and ultimately disturbs sleep as well as the general state of health. 
Any mattress that's not comfortable and supportive can make it harder to sleep well and recover from whatever is ailing you. A good quality sleeping surface is like setting the stage for a healthy sleeping environment. It helps you heal better, reduces pain, and gives you the restful sleep your body needs. 

The unified view on sleep and healing 

 Medical sciences have always recommended sleep as a natural medicine that is crucial for health and healing. However, in today’s busy and sedentary lifestyle, we quickly forget the importance of sleep and compromise on it. Quality sleep helps your body repair itself, fights infections, boosts immunity, keeps your brain sharp, and improves emotional well-being. Remember sleep is as important as nutrition and exercise.