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Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#21

Post by mogrim »

michaelgrafl wrote: post #16

In the past few weeks I've been shitty to my girlfriend a few times after a night of bad sleep (interrupted sleep and more dreaming than normally). I figured out that I sleep a lot better - especially when sharing a bed with her - when I omit drinking alcohol, even small amounts. So maybe that's worth a try for people suffering from light sleep.

I've also noticed that even small amounts of alcohol at night can have a serious effect on quality of sleep, even just a couple of beers - nowhere near enough to cause a hangover, so you wouldn't necessarily notice the effect it's having until you cut it out completely.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#22

Post by mratzloff »

awjr wrote: post #20
darxius wrote: post #12

So how much sleep SHOULD I be getting then? I assume it's based on a few things (age, weight, etc).

Well your genes are different to mine so it comes down to your body type. Personally I'll go to bed at 1AM and naturally wake up at around 7:30AM. I usually fall asleep quite quickly and don't usually get woken up by any noise. For you this might be a nightmare. I know people that try and get into bed for 10:30PM. I tried that once. I was awake at 4:30AM. I basically need 6 hours sleep. More just doesn't work for me.…

You tried that once... but changing your sleep schedule is not something that happens literally overnight.

For awhile I was going to bed at 10:30pm and waking at 4:30-5am. It took several weeks before I could train my body to sleep until 6-6:30am. As a result I feel more alert in the evenings.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#23

Post by gz5 »

darxius wrote: post #12

So how much sleep SHOULD I be getting then? I assume it's based on a few things (age, weight, etc).

Your answer is different than my answer. We have 7B different answers if every combo of genes is different.

Have to start somewhere, so this study helps, but 6 hours versus 10 hours for small sample size is only a starting point.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#25

Post by jberryman »

michaelgrafl wrote: post #16

In the past few weeks I've been shitty to my girlfriend a few times after a night of bad sleep (interrupted sleep and more dreaming than normally). I figured out that I sleep a lot better - especially when sharing a bed with her - when I omit drinking alcohol, even small amounts. So maybe that's worth a try for people suffering from light sleep.

I've found this to be true. I also find I sleep more soundly and feel much better in the morning if I drink a big glass of water before bed too sort of "tank up"; otherwise I end up waking several times throughout the night. Oh, also the amount of light in a room is huge for me, which I didn't realize until I moved and had thick curtains installed.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#26

Post by guylhem »

Has anyone noticed how people who do not sleep a lot "look old" - I mean with wrinkles, spots, etc.

Look at investment bankers - their chronological age does not seem to match their physical appearance.

This article gives a potential explanation - bad sleep changes protein expression, but I'm curious about the visible outcomes.

Hopefully there are many sleep deprived founders, and well rested lifestyle entrepreneurs (sorry for the cliché!) reading this thread.

Do people tell you you look younger/older than what you are? And how old are you??

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#28

Post by littledot5566 »

michaelgrafl wrote: post #16

In the past few weeks I've been shitty to my girlfriend a few times after a night of bad sleep (interrupted sleep and more dreaming than normally). I figured out that I sleep a lot better - especially when sharing a bed with her - when I omit drinking alcohol, even small amounts. So maybe that's worth a try for people suffering from light sleep.

From my personal experiences, having a quality roommate (not in same bed) forces me to adopt a normal sleep schedule. I don't want my activities to wake my roommate up and turn his day bad, so I sleep shortly after my roommate goes to bed. But when I live alone, I procrastinate my sleep, I would rather watch videos than go to bed, it wouldn't disturb anyone anyways, and the chances of having an abnormal sleep schedule becomes the norm.

Perhaps there is some psychological/social aspects to sleeping and what you and I have described falls into this aspect.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#30

Post by _stephan »

markprovan wrote: post #24

I've been stressing out a lot about Uni recently, maybe getting a few hours sleep a night (last night I got an hour). Never have I felt worse in my life.

If there's no other way to reduce your workload, get a certificate of illness from a doctor and delay some of the work or examinations or whatever is stressing you out. Don't ruin your health. If exam preparation causes you so much stress that you can't sleep or focus anymore, please see a doctor, there's a good chance the doctor can help you with coping with the stress.
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