Sleep quality and quality of life

The most common sleep complaint when visiting the doctor is, not sleeping well. The optimal amount of sleep we should have each night varies from individual to individual. The body's natural method of regulating how much sleep we need is set by our natural circadian rhythms, although when these become disrupted, the quantity and quality of sleep achieved can be affected, making an impact on our health and daytime functioning. Studies suggest that sleep quality rather than quantity has a greater impact on quality of life and daytime functioning, such as not feeling refreshed in the morning, not having enough energy to carry out daily responsibilities, bad mood and feeling.

Restorative sleep has an important impact on our mental health such as intellectual performance, with many studies suggesting a 15% improvement in memory and mental agility after a good night's sleep.

Conversely, lack of good sleep leads to declined morning alertness, daytime fatigue and hereby poor quality of life.