A good night’s sleep clearly tied to healthy bodies, brains

Around 30 to 50 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, resulting in one in three adults not getting an adequate amount of sleep, which is imperative to a healthy life, and sophomore Dracie Korf said some days, he definitely feels the impact of sleep deprivation. “It depends on the day. I’m tired in the morning, and then I get tired towards the end of the day.”

During sleep, one’s brain cleans itself using the glymphatic system. Much like the lymphatic 

system, it uses fluid to rid brains of waste that it produces. An example of that debris would be amyloid; it’s a substance that forms sticky plaques in the brain and is linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. Overall, chronic sleep deprivation is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline.

The daily recommended amount of sleep for teenagers is eight-10 hours for optimal function: however, two people can get the same amount of sleep while one feels tired and the other feels fine. This can be due to sleep quality; it refers to how well you slept and whether you are getting uninterrupted sleep, among other factors. 

Junior Patrick Shields said he gets around eight to nine hours of sleep. This fits the recommended amount of sleep according to the Mayo Clinic, which recommends those aged 13-18  to get eight-10 hours.

Not getting enough sleep is linked to a greater risk of accidents. According to the National Sleep Foundation, fatigue is the cause of 100,000 traffic accidents, with 55 percent of such crashes involving people under 25. In fact, driving with no sleep is the same as driving under the influence.

Having good sleep habits is a great way to start incorporating more sleep and better quality of sleep. A way to have good sleep hygiene would be to wake up and go to sleep at around the same times every day. 

Sophomore Ben Brunning said, “I shower at 7, then I play a couple games of Fortnite.” Showering before bed can be part of a good routine, provided one time it is right. A bath or shower one-two hours before bed can help improve sleep quality. 

Sophomore Sofia Gallardo said, “I have a really cool room.” Sleeping in a cold room is great for sleep, as it promotes the production of melatonin, which helps boost sleep and uninterrupted rest.