Is a good night’s sleep all you want for Christmas?

In today’s fast-paced world, sleep often takes a backseat – especially during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. However, if you aren’t prioritizing quality sleep, you may be jeopardizing your health.

Dr. Yelena Tumashova, a sleep medicine physician at Advocate Health Care, encourages you to focus on sleep and even consider making it your New Year’s resolution.

“Poor quality sleep can increase your risk for developing many health conditions,” says Dr. Tumashova. “After all, you sleep about 30% of your life, so it’s no wonder it has a big impact on your overall health.”

Not receiving quality sleep can have the following consequences:

Decreased immunity

Sleep helps your body fight off infections and recover from any current illnesses, including COVID and other seasonal respiratory viruses. This is because sleep triggers your inflammatory response which promotes healing.

Increased risk of heart disease

Over time, poor sleep can impact your heart health by increasing your blood pressure, blood sugar levels and risk for obesity – all of which contribute to heart disease.

“Poor sleep is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Tumashova says.

Poor mental health

“Sleep is essential for cognitive functions, such as memory, learning and stress management,” Dr. Tumashova explains.

In fact, a study found that you are 2.5 times more likely to experience regular mental distress if you typically sleep six hours or less per night.

Increased risk of metabolic conditions

Studies have found that inadequate sleep can cause metabolic disorders, like diabetes mellitus, since sleep directly affects blood sugar levels.

Reproductive health troubles

A study found that women with insomnia are 4 times more likely to experience fertility issues. Improving your sleep is just one of the many modifiable risk factors that can improve your reproductive health.

“Don’t wait to prioritize sleep or seek help until sleep problems affect your health – start making changes today,” encourages Dr. Tumashova. “Good sleep hygiene includes a quiet and dark bedroom, not exercising close to bedtime and relaxing at least one hour before bedtime without electronics.”

If you continue to have trouble sleeping, consult with your health care provider.

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