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Sleep Health

"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health & our bodies together"

~ Thomas Dekker

Healthy sleep really is essential for a healthy life!

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Sleep has always been at the top of my list of priorities; I really do believe that giving our body the sleep it needs has a profound impact on our heath and wellbeing, more so than any other modifiable factor in our lives. Most adults need between 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night and school-age children need between 10 to 11 hours. This allows for proper recuperation and gives our bodies the chance to detoxify and regenerate. Anything less than these recommended amounts is considered insufficient and raises an individual's risk of numerous health problems. 

 

Sleep deprivation is becoming increasingly common in today’s society and has now been recognised as a global public health epidemic. Evidence shows that insufficient sleep, both in duration and quality, is associated with premature mortality and an extensive list of adverse health outcomes, these include;

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  • diminished cognitive function such as poor memory & suboptimal decision-making

  • irritability, moodiness & aberrant behaviour

  • brief mental lapses & increased risk of traffic accidents

  • anxiety, depression & increased suicide risk

  • metabolic and cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus & cancer

  • obstructive sleep apnoea

  • immune system suppression & increased infections

  • migraine

  • burnout

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Insufficient sleep is defined as a curtailed sleep pattern that has persisted for at least 3 months for most days of the week along with feelings of sleepiness during the day and a resolution of sleepiness following an increase in total sleep time. Insufficient sleep varies from insomnia, with the former being associated with a lack of opportunity to sleep such as due to long work hours, whereas insomnia refers to an inability to sleep despite having the opportunity to do so.

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Insomnia is generally categorised into 2 types; sleep onset (difficulty falling asleep) and sleep maintenance (difficulty staying asleep). 

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Some Common Causes of Insufficient Sleep:

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  • High stress levels

  • Long working hours

  • Shift work

  • Jet lag

  • Caffeine and alcohol consumption

  • Inadequate or low quality sleep

  • Night-time stimulation e.g. computer games, mobile phone use

  • Eating dinner too close to bed time

  • Sleeping in a room that is too light, noisy or warm

  • Medication side effects

  • Pregnancy

  • Sleep disorders

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How Naturopathy can help with Sleep Health & Insomnia:

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A Naturopath can facilitate sleep quality with natural treatment by:

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  • Establishing the causative factors of insomnia

  • Supporting neurotransmitter production and regulation,

  • Supporting hormonal balance, particularly between cortisol & melatonin (our stress & primary sleep hormones)

  • Suggesting effective home remedies & healthy sleep habits, aimed at calming the nervous system

  • Addressing any pathology that may contribute to poor sleep

  • Prescribing individualised natural treatment, including nutritional supplements and herbal medicines, to support quality sleep

 

Are you ready to regain optimal health?

 

Let’s get started!

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