Physical Health and Sleep (2024)

How are They Connected?

Updated February 9, 2024

Jay Summer Staff Writer

Jay Summer

Staff Writer

Jay Summer is a health content writer and editor. She holds a B.S. in psychology and master's degrees in writing and public policy.

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Dr. Dustin Cotliar Sleep Medicine Physician

Dr. Dustin Cotliar

Sleep Medicine Physician

Dustin Cotliar holds a medical degree from the State University of NY (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine, and a master’s in public health from Columbia University, where he focused on healthcare policy and management. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, with over eight years of practice that includes emergency medicine, urgent care, and telemedicine.

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Up-to-Date

Table of Contents

How Your Physical Health Impacts Your Sleep
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Physical Health
Are You Getting Enough Sleep? Here’s How to Tell
The Physical Benefits of Sleep
The Importance of Sleep Hygiene

The relationship between sleep and overall physical health is complex and interconnected. Sleep allows both the body and brain to recover during the night, ensuring you feel refreshed and alert when you wake up in the morning. At the same time, your physical health and associated medical conditions can make it difficult to get the sleep you need.

Sleep plays a vital role in your mental and physical wellbeing. Different processes that occur during sleep help to promote healthy brain activity and maintain good overall health. A lack of high-quality sleep means your body has less time to recover during the night. This can also lower your body’s defenses against diseases and medical conditions.

How Your Physical Health Impacts Your Sleep

A person’s physical health can impact whether or not they get enough high-quality sleep. Physical and mental illnesses can cause a person to fall short on sleep. Similarly, medications and supplements a person may take for health issues can negatively impact sleep duration Trusted Source UpToDateMore than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights.View Source and quality.

While people often become sleep-deprived because they do not get enough sleep, it can also stem from not getting enough quality sleep. Even a person who sleeps eight hours per night can become sleep-deprived if their sleep quality is poor.

Poor sleep quality usually results from a person waking up during the night, even if these awakenings are brief and not remembered. Sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea and periodic limb movement disorder, can cause multiple awakenings during the night and reduce sleep quality.

Hormonal fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can also interfere with getting quality sleep.

The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Physical Health

Sleep deprivation can have a significant impact on overall physical health, as adequate sleep is essential for various bodily functions.

Over time, not getting enough sleep can negatively impact a person’s physical health in multiple ways. When a person falls short on sleep, they face a higher risk of these issues:

Are You Getting Enough Sleep? Here’s How to Tell

Adults require at least 7 hours of sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source each night. When a person isn’t getting enough sleep, they often feel tired during the day and like their physical and mental well-being is compromised. Symptoms of sleep deprivation include:

Feeling extremely tired during the day
Mood changes, including increased stress, anxiety, or irritability
Impaired thinking, memory, and judgment
Reduced attention span

The Physical Benefits of Sleep

When a person who is falling short on sleep begins getting adequate sleep, the symptoms of sleep deprivation may be reversed. Trusted Source UpToDateMore than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights.View Source Restoring adequate sleep after sleep deprivation may bring about an improved mood, an increase in energy and attention, and feelings of improved well-being. The risk of car cr a shes or work accidents may also be reduced.

Sometimes, sleep deprivation impacts a person’s social and work life. They may cut back on enjoyable activities due to tiredness or find they are falling behind on their responsibilities at home or work. If adequate sleep is restored, a person may notice they have more energy to dedicate to their work, hobbies, and home life.

“In addition to eating a nutritious diet, avoiding stress, and exercising, getting a good night’s rest is a major pillar of good health that a person has a large degree of ownership over.”

Dr. Dustin Cotliar

Sleep Medicine Physician, MD

The Importance of Sleep Hygiene

There are many lifestyle changes you can make to help yourself get enough high-quality sleep on a regular basis.

Be consistent: Going to sleep at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each morning can promote healthy sleep.
Keep a bedtime routine: Practice a nightly routine of calm activities you engage in to prepare for sleep. This routine may involve dimming the lights and doing something quiet, like reading, for a couple of hours before bedtime.
Avoid blue light at night: Stop using electronic devices, like smartphones and computers, at least half an hour before you plan on sleeping. These emit blue light, which suppresses melatonin, the sleep hormone.
Exercise regularly: Exercising daily has been found to improve sleep quality and make falling asleep easier.
Create a sleep-friendly bedroom:Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet to improve sleep quality and duration. Ear plugs and blackout curtains may help.

About Our Editorial Team

Written By

Jay Summer,Staff Writer

Jay Summer is a health content writer and editor. She holds a B.S. in psychology and master's degrees in writing and public policy.

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Dustin Cotliar,Sleep Medicine PhysicianMD

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References

3 Sources

Maski, K. (2024 January). Insufficient sleep: Evaluation and management. In T. Scammell & A. Eichler (Ed.). UpToDate.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/insufficient-sleep-evaluation-and-management
Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D’Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: Methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(11), 1549–1561.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27707447/
Cirelli, C. (2024 January). Insufficient sleep: Definition, epidemiology, and adverse outcomes. In R. Benca & A. Eichler (Ed.). UpToDate.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/insufficient-sleep-definition-epidemiology-and-adverse-outcomes