The four pillars of sleep include regularity (consistency of schedule), continuity (waking up many times during the night?), quantity (in total, and in each stage), and quality (how good the “electrical signature” of sleep is).
When one or more of these are disrupted or insufficient, some parts of your brain may be altered. You may have trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling your emotions and behavior, and coping with change. Insufficient sleep has also been linked to depression, suicide, and risk-taking behavior.
Sleep plays a crucial role in physical health, as well. Adequate sleep is linked to healing and repair, regulation of the cardiovascular system, maintenance of normal blood sugar, decreased risks of obesity, immune system function, and healthy hormone production. Most astoundingly, insufficient sleep is linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, an earlier onset, and more severe symptoms.
At The Miletic Center, our goal is to provide you with the tools to promote a long and restful night’s sleep. We use a variety of techniques to keep you functioning your best mentally and physically, including mindfulness and meditation, natural supplements, stress management, bedtime routines, nutrition coaching and more.