Sleep: Pillars of Health, Sleep and More Sleep! (And Other Therapies)

That sluggish feeling that creeps up come the end of Winter feels all too familiar. And while you’re horizontal under the duvet, hear this – perhaps not that you’re more tired, just that your hormones are telling you so. That’s the thing about your health; your body is so attuned to what’s happening around you. In other words, a long, cold winter means your circadian rhythm is out of whack. All your body wants to do is produce more of the sleep hormone (melatonin) because it’s dark outside. Result? You feel sleepy.

 See how that works? So, back to bed, right? No, it’s time to find your groove with health-changing wake-ups for a boosted sense of wellbeing. But first, let’s start with why you’re so in love with nap time. 

More Sleep: The Importance of Downtime 

Not only does sleep support brain health, mood and general health, but what you consider a common-sense basic is helping you fight disease. Not getting enough sleep puts you at risk of some rather scary stuff like heart disease, obesity, and even dementia. And then there’s your skin. Want to age before your time? Become a real night owl. Remember how Gran spoke about “Beauty Sleep“? Well, she was right. The link between sleep and anti-ageing is a strong one. And a scientific one, too. Our bodies go into repair mode when we’re in a deep sleep. 

Growth hormones get to work to boost collagen production, which is essential to keep skin firm and bouncy. But party it up till sunrise (or work on that report till it’s time to wake the kids), and where’s your skin’s rejuvenation zone gone? Much like your sleep, long forgotten. 

Sorting Out Shut Eye: Therapies That Work

While the Four Pillars of Health include more than sleep, if you feel like your eight hours aren’t filling your cup, look to treatment to get your fix. IV infusions for exhaustion mean doing something to fuel your system from the inside out (other than coffee). These cocktails are vitamin, nutrient and mineral therapy at high dosages. Delivered intravenously, for when you’re not sleeping (or feeling burnt out), ask your skilled healthcare professional to guide you on the best-boosting cocktail. Also, look to your other pillars of health to see if there’s a link to disturbed sleep or feeling sluggish. 

Do you need to up your exercise or work on better nutrition? And very importantly, how is managing those stress levels going? Again, that’s where IV Infusions can come to the rescue. While not a quick fix (think slow and steady wins the race), cocktails for chronic stress help with dosing your system with potent energy-giving ingredients. Need B vitamins, magnesium, Vitamin C and the antioxidant Glutathione? It’s all available combined in one power shot. 

Still Awake? Sleep Apnea and the Rise of Restlessness 

If you’re living like a health Queen, getting to bed on time and still waking up tired, it’s worth checking out apnea. It’s the leading cause of daytime sleepiness, and it can result in the difference between feeling amazing in the morning and dead tired. Imagine you’re in a deep sleep. When your breathing pauses or becomes shallow, you go from that delicious sleep into the shallow, light version. And so the pattern continues. In and out of deep and shallow sleep all night until you wake feeling unrested. It’s the pause in breathing that’s freaky, right? 

There are ways that your sleep apnea – once diagnosed – can be managed. From sleeping elevated to nutraceutical supplementation and more, it’s not something you have to live with. 

Ultimately, sleep, like the other pillars of health, keeps us functioning at our best. For some, it’s a lifeline; for others, it’s like putting petrol in the car. Necessary only when the warning light comes on. Like with so many other things, it’s all about balance. So there’s no great secret here; lose out, and you’ll regret it. The life struggle is real, though. The good news is that sleep TLC is part of feeling better. So much better. If you need it, grab it – you deserve that incredible eight hours of shut-eye.