GOOD NIGHTLY SLEEP – THE MASTER MEDICINE

Sunday, July 20, 2025


“The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to”, says F. Scott Fitzgerald. Absolutely correct. 24x7 our life does move in consonance with mother earth's movement round the Energy God, Sun. Morning to noon to evening to finally night, the day long activities are positioned accordingly. But rightly or wrongly, in the name of LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization) or otherwise, the natural character of people's daily routine, in culturally and traditionally strong countries like India too, underwent changes, more for the worse, particularly for the urban population. Even a normal nightly sleeping habit is profoundly affected. The age old saying, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise’ is no longer considered worth appreciating and practising by many. The reasons may also be many, but the fact remains as William Shakespeare writes, ‘Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care. The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath. Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in life’s feast.’

Doctors and medical researchers are of the firm view that a good sleep at night is as essential for proper health, as food and exercise. Studies have shown that adults sleeping for 7-8 hours every night have fewer chances of contracting diabetes in the long run, than those who sleep for fewer hours. The science behind it claims that sleep calms the brain and facilitates the normal hormone secretion necessary for the body's strong defence system as well. It is also interesting to know the deep relationship between sleep and immunity. In fact, a good immune system and good sleep are interdependent and mutually beneficial. Experts do say that sleep is actually known to be a predictor of our immune health.

It has also been medically proved beyond any doubt that much of our body's regeneration processes take place during those sleeping hours at night. Obviously, lack of sleep, more so of quality sleep, upsets the normal hormonal balance which is one of the major causes of weak metabolism-immunity and consequently of several diseases. In fact, sleep deprivation is one such casualty of today's so-called fast life which has great negative physiological and behavioural consequences. Sleep deprivation can put the body into a state of high alert, enhance the chances of catching common cold or flu, increase the production of stress hormones and push up blood pressure which may further lead to many health complications. 

It is also found that due to inadequate sleep and rest, levels of the hormone responsible for stimulating appetite increase, and the hormone that regulates fullness drops, which could lead to weight gain. Various studies did report a correlation between adults who do not get enough sleep and their tendency to gain weight and become obese. Not only this, sleep disorder and/or poor habits that block this progression create a situation of sleep debt. Feeling tired and listless follow from not getting enough sleep or by experiencing poor sleep quality.

Changing the natural course of life at will, doctors opine, affects not only our health but also the health of our family since it has a multidimensional impact on our life. Routine and disciplined life having a well-drawn balance among all necessary activities including sleep has several advantages for the family as a whole.

John Steinbeck is very right when he says, "It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it." So, it is incorrect to think and even worse to practice that nightly sleep is a luxury and not a necessity. It being the hard truth, it is also a must for everybody to maintain good sleep hygiene – good routine, healthy eating habit, suitable sleeping facility and environment, sleeping schedule, no or lesser use of electronic gadgets at least 30 minutes before going to bed etc. for ensuring sound sleep every night to reap innumerable benefits of this master medicine. (hellomilansinha@gmail.com)

As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, I request you to post your comments to share your valuable opinion.        

 Published in "Morning India" daily
# Click here to enjoy my Blog in Hindi, "Chalte, Chalte" (चलते, चलते)

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