Sleep helps the body get rid of toxins and fight disease by boosting the immune system’s defensive response, which may promote a longer life.
Many people face sleep problems, which affects the ability to perform daily practices, even simple ones, and affects the physical and mental health of the individual over time, and therefore, this may have serious consequences that may lead to early death.
There are several factors that cause sleep disorders, including a bad pillow, as expert Karen Yu points out: “Sleeping with a bad pillow can increase the likelihood of waking up during the night, and this interrupted sleep can leave us feeling tired and lethargic in the short term, and has a negative impact on sleep. Big on our long-term health and well-being.”
Dr. Lindsey Browning expands on the health risks of poor sleep, saying, “Sleep is vital to longevity. When we sleep, our brains physically repair our bodies and regulate important hormones that control our bodies during the day. If we don’t get the right amount or type of sleep, In the long term, our bodies will not repair properly during the night.”
Dr. Browning explained that good sleep is essential “to remove the buildup of amyloid plaques that can cause Alzheimer’s disease.”
“When we don’t get enough sleep, our brains don’t have time to do this physical brain cleaning,” she added.
Dr. Browning noted that lack of sleep is a risk factor for dementia. “Also, if we don’t get enough sleep, our brains don’t regulate the hormones that control hunger drive (ghrelin and leptin), which can lead to weight gain and obesity.”
Obesity itself is associated with many diseases, from high blood pressure to cancer.
Dr Browning explained that getting less than seven hours of sleep per night is associated with a higher risk of death from all causes.
In other words, “you are more likely to die early from any cause than people who sleep seven to nine hours.”
“For all these reasons and more, regular sleepless nights and interrupted sleep are not good for us,” Browning said.
Lack of sleep can negatively affect mood, which may increase the risk of depression and anxiety.
How do you know if it’s time to get a new pillow?
Expert Karen Yu shared some signs that a pillow change is needed, including:
– Pillows are designed to “promote healthy alignment of the head, neck, and spine,” and if you’re waking up with a stiff neck, headaches, or migraines, that could be a sign that your pillow needs a change.
– When the pillow fails the “fold test,” which involves folding your pillow in half and holding it for 30 seconds. When the pillow is released, it should return to its normal shape. If it does not return to shape, it is recommended to change it.
– A pillow that is lumpy, no longer fluffy and comfortable, or that contains odors, also needs to be changed
