Convenient sleep

Swedish study

A Swedish study claims that people deprived of sleep for long periods appear less attractive and unhealthier than those who are well rested. The research team asked untrained observers to rate the faces of 23 young men and women who had been photographed after a normal night's sleep and then after a night of sleep deprivation. The photographs were standardized so that people were the same distance from the camera, wore no make-up and used the same expression.

The authors wrote in their paper published in the British Medical Journal: “Sleep deprived people are perceived as less attractive, less healthy and more tired compared with when they are well rested.” They say the results may be useful in a medical setting, helping doctors to pick up signs of ill-health in their patients.

DR, Derk-Jan Dijk, Professor of Sleep and Physiology at the Surrey Sleep Research Centresay, “The photographs were taken during the daytime when the biological clock promotes wakefulness.” He added, “Can you imagine how sleep loss makes you look at night or early in the morning when the circadian clock (body clock) promotes sleep?”

British and Italian study

A recent study by a group of British and Italian researchers say that getting less than six hours sleep a night can lead to an early grave. They also said that people regularly having such little sleep were 12% more likely to die over a 25-year period than those who got an “ideal” six to eight hours. Also, they found an association between sleeping for more than nine hours and early death, although that much sleep may merely be a marker of ill health.

Professor Francesco Cappuccio, leader of the Sleep, Health and Society Program at the UK's University of Warwick, says, “Modern society has seen a gradual reduction in the average amount of sleep people take and this pattern is more common amongst full-time workers.” Professor Jim Horne, of the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre, says, “Sleep is just a litmus paper to physical and mental health. Sleep is affected by many diseases and conditions, including depression. Five hours is insufficient for most people and being drowsy in the day increases your risk of having an accident if driving or operating dangerous machinery.” he added.

What would happen if we did not sleep?

Scientists say that a good way to understand the role of sleep is to look at what would happen if we did not sleep. Lack of sleep has serious effects on our brain's ability to function. If you have ever pulled an all-nighter, you will be familiar with the following after-effects: grumpiness, grogginess, irritability and forgetfulness. After just one night without sleep, concentration becomes more difficult and attention span shortens considerably.

With continued lack of sufficient sleep, the part of the brain that controls language, memory, planning and sense of time is severely affected, practically shutting down Sleep deprivation not only has a major impact on cognitive functioning but also on emotional and physical health. Disorders such as sleep apnoea which result in excessive daytime sleepiness have been linked to stress and high blood pressure. Research has also suggested that sleep loss may increase the risk of obesity because chemicals and hormones that play a key role in controlling appetite and weight gain are released during sleep.

Benefits of sleep

According to the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, our body manages and requires sleep in much the same way that it regulates the need for eating, drinking, and breathing. Extensive research has been done on the effects of sleep. These studies have consistently shown that sleep plays a vital role in promoting physical health, longevity, and emotional well-being.

The following are a group of sleep benefits:

• Sleep helps to repair the body.
• Sleep helps keep heart healthy.
• Sleep reduces stress.
• Sleep improves memory.
• Sleep helps control body weight issues.
• Sleep reduces the chances of diabetes.
• Sleep reduces the occurrence of mood disorders.
• Skimping on sleep increases hunger, which leads to obesity.

Koran assures on the importance of sleeping

Fourteen centuries ago, God the Almighty told us about the importance of sleep as He says (meaning), “And have made your sleep as a thing for rest.” (Sura An-Naba’, ayah 9). Also in another verse God the Almighty says (meaning), “And it is He Who makes the night a covering for you, and sleep (as) repose and makes the day Nushur (i.e. getting up and going about here and there for daily work, etc. after one's sleep at night or like resurrection after one's death).” (Sura Al-Furqan, ayah 47).

Till now science is unable to understand the phenomenon of sleep and atheists who believe in the theory of human evolution cannot understand how nature succeeds in make sleeping have this vital role in life of mankind? And how did this blind nature know that sleep is important to people? It is a miracle and a sign of the uncountable signs, which testifies that God the Most High is the creator of mankind and all creatures, as He Almighty says (meaning), “And among His Signs is the sleep that you take by night and by day, and your seeking of His Bounty. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who listen.” (Sura Ar-Rum, ayah 23).