How important is sleep? - Day of Sleep on June 21

World Sleep Day was first established in 1999 by the association Tag des Schlafes e.V. The focus was to educate the public about sleep disorders and associated diseases and to create awareness for healthy sleep. Since then, the awareness day has been held every year on June 21. 

We at Therapiedecken.de also want to draw attention to World Sleep Day again this year and raise awareness in our society about sleep disorders and the importance of healthy sleep.

Common symptoms of sleep deprivation 

The first signs of sleep deprivation are reduced absorption capacity and difficulty concentrating. Other signs and symptoms of sleep deprivation include excessive fatigue and mood swings. Feeling extremely tired and drained during the day is one of the characteristic signs of sleep deprivation. People with insufficient sleep often feel very sleepy and exhausted. In some cases, this leads to so-called microsleep, where the person falls asleep for a few seconds. This can be especially dangerous when driving.
Persistent sleep deprivation very quickly becomes chronic sleep deprivation, which can lead to a whole range of health problems. 

Sleep plays a fundamental role in the effective functioning of almost all bodily functions, so persistent sleep deprivation carries significant risks for physical and mental health.

• Cardiovascular diseases: Studies have found a strong link between sleep deprivation and cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
• Diabetes: Insufficient sleep appears to impair the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
• Immune deficiency: Sleep deprivation has been shown to impair immune function.
• Hormonal changes: Sleep supports the body in the proper production and regulation of various hormones, which may increase susceptibility to hormonal problems in people with sleep deprivation.
• Mental health disorders: Sleep and mental health are closely intertwined. Too little sleep is closely associated with conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders.

Why is good sleep important?

Sleep improves memory

The connection between sleep and memory performance is well known. Sleep gives the brain the opportunity to process all the stimuli we have taken in while awake and triggers changes in the brain that strengthen neural connections and help us form memories. These memories can later be retrieved through a process called "recall"; that is why teachers emphasize how important it is to sleep well before an exam. Although the relationships between sleep, learning, and memory are complex, we have all experienced how sleep deprivation can affect our concentration and learning ability.

Sleep supports maintaining a healthy body weight

When sleep-deprived, the body changes the hormones that regulate hunger and appetite. These hormones include leptin (suppresses appetite) and ghrelin (triggers hunger). Both hormones become imbalanced when you sleep too little – leptin decreases and ghrelin increases. It is therefore not unusual to reach for sugary drinks to stay awake, grab something to eat instead of cooking, or skip exercise. Consuming many calories or skipping physical activity may be okay from time to time, but with chronic fatigue, this can lead over time to weight gain or the development of obesity or diabetes.  

Sleep can prevent diseases

Lack of sleep can have very adverse effects on health and is linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The insidious thing about sleep deprivation is that its negative effects are often only felt when it is too late. The more sleep you miss and the longer you go through phases of sleep deprivation, the greater the negative health consequences can be.

12 kg heavy weighted blankets for better sleep

Our therapy blankets, weighing up to 12kg, can improve falling asleep and staying asleep through their adjusted weight, reducing stress and inner restlessness. The weight of the weighted blanket promotes the release of the hormones serotonin (the happiness hormone) and melatonin (the sleep hormone) while simultaneously lowering cortisol levels in the body. Therefore, the weight of the blanket has a positive effect on sleep. Falling asleep and staying asleep are made easier, and the deep sleep phase is reached faster. Even when relaxing on the sofa, reading, or watching TV, the heavy weighted blankets help relax the body and nervous system. After just a few days, sleep behavior and overall well-being can improve. Stress, restlessness, and anxiety can be reduced, and the start of the day feels rested and relaxed.