Health
Amazing Health Benefits That Accompany Sound Sleep
Lack of adequate sleep is a pathway to disaster, according to medical practitioners. Experts agree that an adult who manages to get at least 7 hours of sleep at a stretch may not need to worry about developing complex health challenges. It presupposes that quality sleep is a foremost therapy, a good dose for reworking all dislocations that the body suffers during hours of hard work, trauma and hassles of the day. Below are excerpts on benefits which adequate sleeps offers, any day.
How to Sleep Better
Stick to a routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Stay quiet and relaxed as bedtime approaches. Dim any bright lights. Don’t do anything stressful. Both can make it hard to fall asleep. Skip naps if you have trouble at bedtime. Move around every day. Hard exercise seems to work best, but any kind helps. Try to keep your bedroom cool: 60-67 degrees is ideal.
It’s a Mood Booster
Do you get a little snippy when you’re short on sleep? That’s normal. Just one bad night can make you sad, stressed, angry, and tired. If the trouble lasts, you may start to feel worse about your life. You might not want to hang out with friends and family. Over time this can lead to mood disorders like depression or anxiety. A better sleep routine is the answer. Talk to your doctor if it doesn’t help or if your symptoms get in the way of your life.
Fewer Accidents
Sleepy drivers cause at least 100,000 highway crashes a year. Nodding off at the wheel isn’t the only problem. A lack of rest can lead to a drop in what doctors call mental performance. You’re less motivated, focused, and happy. And you don’t think as clearly. This doesn’t just apply to road warriors. One study showed hospitals could cut mistakes by more than a third if they gave doctors more time to sleep.
Better Memory
It’s a triple whammy. If you haven’t slept, it’s harder to recall things. You also need sleep to create bonds between brain cells that strengthen your long-term memory. Finally, if your mind’s all over the place due to lack of rest, it’s harder for it to file away the things you want to remember. It’s a Mood Booster
Less Chance of Diabetes
When you don’t sleep much, especially if it’s less than 5 hours a night, your body doesn’t use glucose, its main fuel source, as well as it should. Over time that can boost your chances of getting diabetes.
Adequate Sleep Makes You Turbo Charged For Sex
Not as many rolls in the hay? Maybe you and your partner need a little more shut-eye. Lack of sleep can zap your testosterone levels. That can make both women and men feel less frisky. If you’re a woman, just 1 extra hour of sleep makes it more likely that you’ll get your groove on the next day.
Fewer Wrinkles
Cut your slumber short on a regular basis and your skin might wrinkle and sag before it should. That’s partly because your body releases the stress hormone cortisol when you haven’t had enough sleep. It can break down collagen, a substance that helps keep your skin smooth.
You’ll Choose Wisely
Your judgment goes down the tubes without enough sleep. Overworked brain cells can’t organize or even recall the things you thought you knew. It’s hard to make a sound decision because you can’t trust your take on an event as it happens. It might look far different if you were properly rested.
You Might Lose Weight
If you sleep less than 6 hours a night, you could have more body fat. You need about 8 hours to keep it to a minimum. When you get less sleep, your body makes too much insulin. That can lead to weight gain. It can also throw your hunger hormones out of whack and make you crave high-fat, high-sugar foods.
Adequate Sleep Promotes Longevity
You’re more likely to die at a younger age if you sleep less than 5 hours a night. It’s hard to tease out all the reasons, but it’s clear that sleep problems make some health issues worse. By the same token, health problems can also get in the way of good sleep.
Fewer Colds
Flu, too. You’re more likely to get sick from an infection if you haven’t slept enough. And you may take longer to get better. That’s because your body can’t make the infection-fighting cells and proteins called antibodies that help protect you from illness. Some of those proteins are only released during sleep.
No More Nodding Off
You know when you fall asleep for a split second and wake right back up? Maybe you don’t even realize you’ve nodded off? There’s a name for that: microsleep. You can’t control when, or if, it happens. You might not even realize when it does. It’s more likely when you haven’t slept and usually lasts from half a second to 15 seconds. That may not sound like much, but even a split second is a lot if you’re driving a car or in a big meeting.
It’s Easier to Learn
Can’t focus? It’s hard to do when you haven’t slept. You’ll also have trouble learning new stuff. And when you do, you’ll need some shut-eye to remember it. Doctors call this consolidation — sleep strengthens the links between brain cells that form memories. That’s what makes learning stick.
Resident doctors at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) in Ondo State have initiated a 14-day warning strike, as confirmed by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The strike action, led by the association’s President, John Matthew, highlights various grievances, notably the non-payment of seven months’ salaries to new members.
Matthew added that the strike also addresses the non-payment of palliative to House Officers since February, the failure to disburse the February Hazard Allowance despite prior assurances from the state government, and the ongoing shortage of staff due to resignations.
Matthew lamented the drastic decrease in resident doctors, citing a decrease from 150 doctors to a mere 26 in recent months.
In response to the situation, he urged management to prioritise the full payment of arrears owed to members, immediate payment of the February 2024 palliative to house officers, and prompt disbursement of the February hazard allowance.
The association further called for urgent measures to address the critical shortage of clinical manpower within the institution.
The Federal Government has greenlit the allocation of N25 billion to bolster the efforts of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in advancing healthcare accessibility and quality across Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, made this known, stressing the steadfast commitment of the current administration towards revamping the healthcare system to achieve Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) for all Nigerians.
In a statement by Deworitshe Patricia, a spokesperson for the ministry, Pate emphasised that the government’s strategy for health sector transformation involves the implementation of a Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme (NHSRIP).
Addressing the imperative for reforms in Nigeria’s primary healthcare delivery, Pate highlighted the significance of revising the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and its associated programmes.
Pate outlined the objectives of the revised guidelines, which include expanding healthcare services for underserved populations, particularly women and children, reducing maternal mortality rates, alleviating out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, and standardizing healthcare quality across primary healthcare facilities nationwide.
“The Ministry, in collaboration with development partners, is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for all Nigerians, with a special focus on vulnerable groups,” stated Pate. “Through initiatives like NHSRIP, we aspire to minimize the need for long-distance travel for medical care, thereby improving the overall health outcomes and well-being of our citizens.”
In a monumental achievement for medical science, a team of Saudi professionals at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital has completed the separation surgery of Nigerian conjoined twins, Hassana and Husaina.
The directive for this historic achievement came from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, demonstrating the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing healthcare.
The complex procedure, initiated on Thursday morning, was the result of meticulous planning and execution by a dedicated team of 38 medical experts. This group included consultants, specialists, technicians, and nursing staff, all working in harmony to address shared areas in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, and lower spinal nerves of the twins.
The surgery, unfolding in nine carefully planned stages, lasted approximately 14 hours. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and head of the medical team, expressed confidence in the success of the procedure, citing a noteworthy 70% success rate.
“This is a momentous occasion that showcases the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing medical science and providing compassionate healthcare globally,” he said.
The successful separation of Hassana and Husaina commemorates the 60th operation conducted by the Saudi programme for separating conjoined twins. Over the past 34 years, this programme has offered care to 135 conjoined twins from 25 countries.
Dr. Al Rabeeah expressed heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi leadership for their steadfast support of the programme.
He said, “The successful separation of Hassana and Husaina exemplifies the Kingdom’s dedication to humanitarian causes and its role as a leader in global healthcare.”
The Press Attaché at the Saudi embassy in Abuja, Mohammed Alsahabi, remarked on the accomplishment, stating, “This remarkable feat underscores the strong collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria in healthcare. We take pride in contributing to the improvement of these twins’ lives and their families.”
The separation of Hassana and Husaina represents not just a medical triumph but also serves as a symbol of hope for numerous individuals confronting similar challenges globally.
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