NCTV Episode 2

Continuing on in the series of bitesize health tip videos which can be found here on my YouTube Channel, this episode covers:-

  • Why sleep is important physically, mentally & physiologically
  • The benefits and adverse effects of getting a good night’s sleep or not
  • How many hours are recommended
  • Naps & caffeine
  • A potentially life-saving book on the matter

Transcript

If you’d prefer to read the content within, rather than watch the video, then feel free to read the transcript, as follows:-

Hello and welcome to NCTV Episode 2, part 1, providing you with some bite-sized bits to help your health flourish.

Week two of coronavirus lockdown here in the UK – today’s topic is the first of a two-parter on one of the most import things for your health and it’s particularly apt in this day & age but especially during this current climate when you need to be maintaining optimal function, physically and mentally.

So what is this mysterious thing that is of all importance to every aspect of your health? Yep you guessed it, sleep.

Why is it important – for more reasons than I can possibly cover here but I will highlight a few.

– Physically, it helps to improve your overall performance in whatever you do by improving your muscle strength, whilst reducing your risk of injury. Your Cardiovascular, Metabolic and respiratory capabilities will also be amplified.

– Mentally, it will improve your mood and aid learning by boosting your creativity, memory and concentration.

– Conversely, a lack of sleep, being under 8 hours, has been linked to neurological and psychological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, anxiety, depression, bipolar & chronic pain.

– Physiologically, a lack of sleep has been linked to the development of Cancer, Diabetes, heart attacks, weight gain & infertility.

So as you can see getting 8 hours of sleep is pretty important and if that hasn’t convinced you to do so then I don’t know what will.

By the way, if you think naps and caffeine are the solution to a lack of sleep, don’t be fooled. These may momentarily increase concentration for the sleep deprived but it won’t salvage the more complex functions like learning, memory, emotional stability, reasoning or decision making, so be warned.

I’ll now refer you a potentially life-saving book that I think everyone should own a copy or at least read / listen to at some point and that is called Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker where a lot of the information I’ve given you here can be found.

So the two takeaways from today are:- get your 8 hours sleep in and read Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker.

That’s all from me today, tune into the next NCTV where I’ll be providing part 2 to this sleep special and giving you a rundown of twelve tips on how to achieve a healthy sleep.

I’m Nick Coysh, this is NCTV, providing you with some bitesize bits to help your health flourish.