Good night sleep is essential for our wellbeing. When we get enough hours of sleep — an adult needs seven to nine hours a day — we are likely to feel more energized during the day and get our tasks done with little effort.
However, what is also essential is the time when we go to bed.
If we fall asleep at random hours and disturb our natural rhythm, it may come with certain consequences.
The truth is that going to bed later and later may seem harmless at first, but not according to Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a California-based gastroenterologist.
He explained that more and more of his patients are showing symptoms that may be related to poor sleeping pattern.
Failing to follow a certain order of going to bed leads to the body to struggle. Delaying sleeping for later every night interrupts the hormonal balance and disturbs the process that helps our brain and our gut work properly.
During sleep, the growth hormone is released, the tissues repair, and the immune cells multiply.
According to Dr. Sethi, staying awake after midnight leads to weight gain. This is backed up by a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that found a 20 per cent greater risk of obesity or large waistline in individuals who went to sleep at midnight as compared to those who went to bed between 8 and 10 p.m.
Dr. Sethi believes that a disturbed sleeping pattern causes tiredness and increases stress levels. Individuals who go to sleep after 1 a.m. are more prone to experience depression and mental disorders. They are also likely to struggle to concentrate during the day.
Going to bed between 10 and 11 p.m. lowers the risks of heart disease. The risks are higher at those who go to bed past midnight.
“To improve your overall health, including hormone balance, gut health, liver health and mood, aim to sleep before midnight.
“And stick to a consistent bedtime.
“Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night,” Dr. Sethi advises.
Dr. Sethi often shares valuable advice on his TikTok (@doctorsethimd) where he has 504,000 followers.
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