As parents ourselves, we have experienced first-hand how getting by on just a few hours of sleep each night can severely impact physical, mental and social health. Really, we have.
When expecting your first child you are told that you cannot comprehend the level of exhaustion that awaits you, and unfortunately, in most cases, that is true. But have you ever stopped to question why it is incomprehensible?
We believe it is because the human body is not designed to tolerate prolonged periods of sleep deprivation. In fact, it is something that has been recognised by the International Human Rights Framework as a method of torture due to its detrimental effects on a person's health. Yet we accept it as our normal.
how sleep deprivation impacts your health
physical health
physical health
physical health
A continued lack of sleep can do more than just put you off going to the gym, it can make you prone to serious medical conditions which can in turn shorten your life expectancy.
Sleep-deprivation reduces your levels of leptin (the chemical that makes you feel full) and increased levels of ghrelin (the hunger-stimulating hormone). Therefore, adults who sleep less than 7 hours a day are more likely to gain weight and become obese.
It can also change the way your body processes glucose, used for energy, and increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is also an association with long-standing sleep deprivation and heart disease through increased heart rate, blood pressure and higher levels of chemicals linked with inflammation which may put extra strain on your heart.
Extreme tiredness can also increase your risk of injury and accidents at home, work or in the car.
mental health
physical health
physical health
We all know that an occasional bad night's sleep can leave us feeling grumpy and out of sorts.
Most of us will have experienced the irritability, lack of focus and short temper that are often associated with going without sleep. Whilst unpleasant in the short-term, the odd night of bad sleep is unlikely to harm your mental health in the long-term.
However, after continued sleepless nights, otherwise known as chronic sleep debt, the mental effects can become more serious. You may find it difficult to concentrate and make decisions and you could start to feel down.
With a continued lack of sleep, this initial feeling of a low mood could easily develop into a long-term disorder like depression or anxiety.
When the NHS surveyed people with anxiety or depression to calculate their sleeping habits it turned out that most of them slept for less than 6 hours a night.
social health
physical health
social health
Tiredness that goes on for a long time can drastically affect your ability to enjoy your life and build or maintain meaningful relationships.
Sleep deprivation can make it very difficult to maintain a social life. This could be because you don't have the energy and enthusiasm required to leave the house. Or it could be that you fear your sleep-deprived child is struggling to socialise and becoming clingy and overwhelmed.
When you have a child that will not sleep reliably you may find that childcare is difficult meaning socialising with adults or even having some alone time with your partner is out of the question.
Research suggests that both men and women who experience sleep deprivation have lower libidos and are less interested in sex. Men who suffer from interrupted sleep also tend to have lower testosterone levels. And in both men and women chronic sleep debt can reduce the secretion of reproductive hormones, meaning you may have difficulty conceiving.
what good sleep looks like
If your child is not sleeping for the recommended length of time for their age then we can work with you to create and implement a bespoke plan that will get them on track.