Sleep is an important factor in human life. Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of US adults have some kind of problem sleeping, which deprives them of recommended hours of sleep. This is not to be taken lightly since insufficient sleep can lead to some serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, depression and Type 2 Diabetes.

The US is not alone in this problem since it's global and has serious public health implications, like increased incidence of disease-related mortality, accidents and other potentially life-threatening conditions [1]. Concerning this, a good night's sleep can lead to good health.

Sleep deprivation is a condition currently on the rise among both genders and in all socio-economic populations. It’s a chronic or acute condition where a person is getting less than 6 hours of continuous sleep. The most commonly known sleep disorder is insomnia, a state where you have difficulty falling or staying asleep. It's believed that one in four Americans suffers from it, but the good news is that 75% of them recover and develop healthy sleep patterns if they decide to address the issue [2].

There are many ways to improve your sleep in traditional and alternative medicine, from serious medication to supplements. Other resources include managing stress and switching to an appropriate diet. Yoga and meditation are also considered useful techniques to calm down the mind and focus on positive things. Infrared therapy is another way to tackle this problem since it can relax the muscles and take care of certain health problems that may be keeping you awake or disrupting your sleep. And with devices like personal infrared saunas, you won't even have to leave your home to experience all the benefits.

Sleep Deprivation And Modern Society

Insufficient sleep is a common occurrence in modern society. Almost everyone suffered from it at some point in their lives. Although the amount of sleep needed depends on a person, for adults it’s recommended to have from 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Anything less than 7 hours is perceived as not getting enough sleep and can have serious consequences on the body and mind.Causes of sleep deprivation vary and include a wide range of things. There's intentional sleep deprivation that happens when a person deliberately sleeps less. While once this was most commonly observed in teenagers and young adults, today it happens among older generations as well.

Some people consider sleeping a waste of time and consciously sacrifice it to chase their goals, e.g. money-making pursuits and education. Other people may have unintentional reasons to sleep less, such as family obligations and demanding occupations. Unfortunately, not all sleep deprivation cases come from these somewhat controllable elements. People who suffer from certain health conditions, like depression and hormone imbalance, can experience insufficient sleep as a symptom.

What Are The Consequences Of Sleep Deprivation?

People who suffer from sleep deprivation experience moodiness, fatigue, depression, irritability and forgetfulness. They also have problems learning, understanding and focusing on tasks and assignments at work, as well as routine day-to-day cognitive activities. Lack of motivation and sexual drive are additional symptoms occurring in people who don’t get a good night’s sleep.

On the other hand, lack of sleep can lead to more complicated health problems, like weakening of the immune system, and make it harder to resist or recover from an illness. Sleep deprivation can contribute to a higher risk of respiratory diseases, as well as worsen an existing one [3]. Levels of the hormones leptin and ghrelin that control hunger and satiety can be affected by lack of sleep, causing increased body weight and obesity. Since insulin is also released when people don’t get enough sleep, the occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes higher in those who suffer from this problem.

Infrared Saunas For Fighting Sleep Deprivation

Infrared sauna benefits lie in their ability to help with some of the problems that may cause insufficient sleep. Spending time in an infrared sauna can help mitigate pain in muscles and joints, which is so strong that it prevents patients from sleeping comfortably or even falling asleep at all [4]. Spending time in an infrared sauna can calm your mind and relax your muscles. In-home saunas, like JNH Lifestyles’ Freedom Collection, are specially designed to provide this type of luxury, with red cedar woodwork and a premium sound system.

Simultaneously, infrared therapy can heal the body from some of the consequences that sleep deprivation has led to, like increased blood pressure [5] and inflammation [6].It can help with weight loss [7] and improve your mental health in the process, which may be affected when a person is overweight or obese. In a way, infrared saunas can prevent further sleep deprivation, while at the same time mitigating and resolving issues created by this condition.

In Conclusion

While infrared saunas may not be the only way to treat sleep deprivation, they are a valuable aspect to the solution. When combined with a change of lifestyle and habits, infrared therapy can give you ideal conditions for improving your sleep patterns and getting a full night’s shuteye. Since this technology is available for self-installation in your home, that makes it accessible and affordable to have. Contact a JNH Lifestyles’ specialist and find the perfect personal infrared sauna for you and your family to experience all its benefits firsthand.

Resources:

[1] Chattu,V.K, et al. (2019). “The Global Problem of Insufficient Sleep and Its Serious Public Health Implications.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnology Information, March 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6473877/.

[2] Perlis,M.L, et al. (2019). “The Natural History of Insomnia: The Incidence of Acute Insomnia and Subsequent Progression to Chronic Insomnia or Recovery in Good Sleeper Subjects.” pubfacts.com,PubFacts – Scientific Publication Data, December 2019, https://www.pubfacts.com/detail/31848629/The-Natural-History-of-Insomnia-The-Incidence-of-Acute-Insomnia-and-Subsequent-Progression-to-Chroni.

[3] Choudhary,S.S. and Choudhary S.R. (2009). “Sleep effects on breathing and respiratory diseases.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnology Information, October–December 2009, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2876696/.

[4] Gale, George D,et al. (2006). “Infrared therapy for chronic low back pain: A randomized, controlled trial.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2006, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2539004/.

[5] Beever Richard. (2009). “Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnology Information, July 2009, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2718593/.

[6]Hamblin, Michael R. (2017). “Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation.” aimspress.com/journal/biophysics, AIMS Biophysics, May 2017, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317346378_Mechanisms_and_applications_of_the_anti-inflammatory_effects_of_photobiomodulation.

[7] Podstawski, Robert, et al. (2014).“Sauna-Induced Body Mass Loss in Young Sedentary Women and Men.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnology Information, December 2014, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4295591/.