A lot of parents bring their young boys and girls to me to “lecture” them on going to bed early. I often tell the parents that it is not my duty to regulate their sleep habits; rather, it is their duty to do it. Then I try to explain to them the medical benefits of going to bed early.
Dr. Munawar Aziz
The human body is automatically self-repairing; it repairs the wear and tear it faces during daytime activities. Certain hormones are only secreted at night when it is dark and one is sleeping. Melatonin is the hormone for better sleep, and growth hormone is also secreted at night while sleeping. It helps build muscles, regulates other growth factors, and boosts immunity to fight day-to-day minor infections.
Staying awake late at night, a practice often associated with modern lifestyles, can have several adverse effects on health and well-being. One of the most immediate impacts is on sleep quality and quantity. Reduced sleep can lead to fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and impaired memory. This lack of rest can make it difficult to concentrate, solve problems, and retain information, affecting both personal and professional performance.
Chronic late-night wakefulness can also disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, the natural biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. This disruption can result in insomnia and other sleep disorders, leading to long-term health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, not to mention psychological problems. The immune system also suffers, making individuals more susceptible to infections.
Mental health is negatively impacted by late-night wakefulness. Studies have shown a correlation between insufficient sleep and an increased risk of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Moreover, the time spent awake at night often involves exposure to screens, which emit blue light that further inhibits sleep by suppressing melatonin production.
Our culture has taken a worse turn. Whereas affluent countries open their businesses early in the morning and close in the evening, we, who have an energy crisis, open our businesses after 12 noon and stay open until past 12 at night, wasting a lot of energy by putting on extra lights.
- Dr. Munawar Aziz
Abbottabad, Pakistan.
aziz.munawar@gmail.com
Agreed Sir. Lack of sleep or disturbed sleep is a complex symptom that emanates from psychosocial forces that seem to be in abundance in all societies today. One causative factor is the relentless drive to achieve more wealth ( and perceived status as a result). In doing so, an important aspect of parenting may be lost – quality time with children. Once you get into this rat race, it is inevitable that irritability sets in and short temper becomes the norm when one does not seem to be handling the stress of under-performing in terms of economics of the household. This leads to strains in family relationships and children will avoid aggressive parents. The result may be children seeking help elsewhere and may land themselves in the company of inappropriate people. Therefore, while it is right to make a living, there needs to be a balance in life.