#29 - Sleeping for health and happiness

Sleep - what a wonderful thing to do

In the modern world, however, the role of sleep seems to be ever decreasing as we have more and more stimulation coming from the usual culprits of social media, entertainment and work. Often times it is cool to say “I don’t have time to sleep - got to work for those dreams”. Or to drink a bottle of wine while binging on Netflix thinking you are “relaxing” and could get a good night’s sleep afterwards. Sleep is simply one of the most important aspect of your overall health and wellbeing. In this special episode we dive deep into the effects of sleep to our health with Dr Miina Öhman (PhD) who is an expert in communicable diseases and longevity.

Topics discussed include:

  • Importance of sleep in the scale of healthy habits

  • Social pressures and stimulus for less sleep

  • Physician’s view on sleep deprivation

  • Cost of sleep deprivation to societies

  • Pain/pleasure continuum in sleeping context

  • Miina’s own sleeping patterns and -habits

  • Age and sleep quality

  • What happens in our brains during different sleep stages

  • Sleep cycles

  • Fragmentation of sleep and its effects on the brain

  • Different stages of sleep

    • 1: Non-rem sleep 1

    • 2: Non-rem stage 2

    • 3: Non-rem stage 3 - deep sleep

    • 4: REM sleep

  • Sleep’s impact on memories, learning and the cognitive function

  • Function of dreaming

  • What happens when we do not sleep long enough or well enough?

  • Sleep deprivation and diabetes

  • Sleep deprivation, hunger and obesity

  • Sleep deprivation and inflammation

  • Sleep deprivation and ageing

  • Sleep deprivation and all-cause mortality

  • Sleep deprivation will decrease your HRV

  • Impact of sleep for your mental health and psychology and happiness

  • Physical recovery and sleep

  • Shift-work, sleep and health

  • Sleep medication, alcohol and sleep

  • How to start improving your sleep

  • Use of melatonin to fall asleep - uselful?

  • Should we try not to use alarm clocks if possible?

  • Sleep and the society

  • Miina’s top tips for better sleep

Follow Miina at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miina-ohman/

Niko Ratala