Health, sleep, and society - how they are connected
“My life is a grueling battle of attrition.” This is the title of an article about a family with three children and two parents who pursue ambitious full-time careers. The mom is a lawyer, he is a manager in a company. The mother is quoted as saying, “There are moments when you can no longer justify your lifestyle.” This raises many questions.
Why do we still subject ourselves to such a daily routine today, at a time when we know what is important for a healthy lifestyle? Why do so many people still believe that it is possible to achieve self-fulfillment in their careers while at the same time preparing several children for life? To raise them and show them that they are loved, not just cogs in the family machine? In addition, they also want to pursue their own interests, hobbies, and relationships. In such a busy life, isn't it completely logical that it can only be lived and perceived through a veil of chronic exhaustion?
Sleep? Only for the weak
Every year, $60 billion is spent worldwide on sleep aids. Everything from medication to sleep aid apps is included. Money is spent on something completely natural and self-regulating, namely healthy and restful sleep. No wonder important people occasionally announce with pride that they can get by on only four or five hours of sleep per night. Permanently. Without restrictions. Even without medication? Without coffee and stimulants?
It seems that in today's culture, sleep is no longer a commodity, but rather a period of unproductivity imposed by biology. Those who are considered to be in need of rest can quickly be viewed with skepticism. It is not uncommon for these looks to convey the question, “Can't cope with modern times, huh? Are you weakening?” When phrases like “Take everything you can get” are the doctrine of our time, it's easy to understand why the need for sleep and rest are not considered positive qualities. Nevertheless, those who consciously try to slow down don't want to be seen as weak. And so they run along, against their needs, against their instincts, wandering around in the undefined stress of the 21st century. And then they are surprised when they are overtaken by diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychological disorders (irritability), or even cancer. Because these can be the results of chronic fatigue and permanently poor sleep. Sleep deprivation is also used as a method of torture. Why do we constantly torture ourselves? In six years of medical school, sleep is covered for a total of 45 minutes.
Our sleep is a seismograph of our overall state of health, says Prof. Dr. med. Christoph Schöbel, sleep medicine specialist at the University Hospital in Essen. All of the problems of everyday life, whether professional, personal, or emotional in nature, whether colds or psychological stress, are first and foremost noticeable in our sleep. This is precisely why it is important to raise awareness of this issue among general practitioners. According to Prof. Schöbel, a distinction must also be made between subjective sleep perception and measured values in the sleep laboratory. Anyone who thinks they sleep well but still has constant headaches may have problems with night-time brain regeneration. The sleep laboratory should not be misunderstood. What can be measured there are primarily physical causes of sleep disorders. However, it is completely unrealistic to expect that 50 cables attached to the head, technical devices in the room, and unfamiliar surroundings can replicate the sleep a patient experiences at home in their own bed. The physical processes during sleep in the laboratory can be measured, and interpretations about a person's general physical health can be derived from this data.
The solution?
Perhaps apps? Yes, there are now smartphone apps that are considered medical devices. Of course, obtaining this product status requires complex and complicated testing criteria, but in the end, these apps can have a positive effect on care. Somnio (from insomnia, sleep disorder), for example, works on Android and Apple devices and offers evidence-based and guideline-compliant content from the field of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. This is how the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices describes it. The app is designed to help users learn how to optimize their sleep times. Thus, even in the field of sleep, classic economic concepts have found their way into the mainstream.
How about good old-fashioned priority management? But not with a calendar and pen, but fundamentally. What do I want? What don't I want? How important is my career to me? How important are my children to me? What can I do to pursue my hobbies again? What exactly drives me through life and can I slow down or even completely abandon some of it? As a former private chef, the author of this text has witnessed wealthy people spending vast sums of money on maintaining golf courses, cars, and real estate. The cost of (healthy) food, on the other hand, was constantly questioned. This paradox was surpassed by the statement shouted loudly at the champagne reception: “Yes, yes, health is the most important thing!”