As the hours grow older and the evenings draw in, it’s easy to feel tired, fatigued, and stuck in sleep mode as the days get shorter.

We all feel grumpy and sluggish after not getting enough sleep, but lack of sleep can affect our mood, health and overall well-being, having a significant impact on many areas of life.

Although an occasional poor night’s sleep is something most people experience throughout their lives without causing major problems, a persistent lack of sleep can impact quality of life.

The effects can range from deteriorating driving skills and decision-making to increasing the risk of obesity, affecting immunity to disease and decreasing fertility.

Most adults need about seven to nine hours of sleep a night, but some need more and some need less. Everyone’s needs are different, so it’s important to assess your own sleep needs. For example, if you often feel tired throughout the day, you probably aren’t getting enough rest.

Insomnia has been shown to have a significant effect on mood and relationships and cause changes in the nervous system, as well as impacting concentration and memory.

A study published by the journal AIMS Neuroscience concluded that “sleep deprivation makes us more emotionally aroused and more sensitive to stressful stimuli and events” and that “sleep appears to be essential to our ability to cope with emotional stress in life.” daily life”.

Regular poor sleep can also increase the risk of developing health problems such as diabetes and heart disease and has been linked to shorter life expectancy and worse long-term health complications.

Research suggests that regularly sleeping less than six hours a night may increase the risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as increase the “fight or flight” hormonal response to stress, which can increase heart rate and increase blood pressure.

Yet many people in the UK are content with poor sleep and therefore do not function optimally during the day – in other words, they are stuck in sleep mode.

A 2022 study even suggested a link between lack of sleep and infertility, possibly linked to the hormone melatonin, which plays a role in egg production in the ovaries.

Sleep also appears to influence obesity, with people sleeping less than five hours a night being about 50% more likely to be obese. Lack of sleep has been shown to lead to increased cravings for sweet, salty, and savory foods and produce more ghrelin, the hunger hormone. Additionally, poor sleep can lead to reduced muscle protein. production.

Sleeping well can have extremely positive effects, such as improving brain function and decision-making, and helping to maintain a healthy weight.

Sleep can also strengthen the immune system, with research showing that flu vaccines are more effective in people who get enough sleep, and that well-rested people are also less likely to suffer from infections such as the common cold.

Good sleep can help heal and repair the heart and blood vessels, also giving respite to the immune and cardiovascular systems and allowing other organs to restore themselves.

Don’t let a disturbed night affect your day. Find Nytol Herbal in-store at Boots and online at boots.com

Nytol herbal tablets. Nytol Herbal Simply Sleep One-A-Night tablets contain valerian root extract. Traditional herbal medicines intended for the temporary relief of sleep disorders in adults, based exclusively on long-standing use as traditional remedies. Nytol Herbal Simply Sleep & Calm Elixir contains valerian root extract. A traditional herbal medicine intended for the temporary relief of symptoms of mild anxiety and to aid sleep in adults, based exclusively on long-standing use as a traditional remedy. Always read the instructions.

Nytol Original 25 mg tablets, Nytol One-A-Night and Nytol Liquid Caramel Flavor 10 mg/5 ml oral solution contain diphenhydramine. Helps relieve temporary sleep disorders from the age of 16. Always read the instructions.