Optimising Sleep
Sleep and sleep deprivation are great influencers on our emotions and physical wellbeing.
Poor quality sleep is becoming increasingly significant as a factor that is related to many mental and physical disorders such as stress, high blood pressure, obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea and diabetes.
The impact of sleep deprivation is felt not just by ourselves but also by those around us. Irritability, moodiness, lack of concentration, depression are common symptoms others have to cope with but, in fatigue related accidents on the road or at work, the results can be fatal.
While it is inevitable that there will always be some incidences of poor sleep, prolonged poor recovery heightens the risk of burnout, chronic fatigue and illness.
Optima-life using Firstbeat HEALTH looks at what is happening in your life during the day time and then evaluates physiological recovery during sleep, indicating the quantity and quality of your sleep.
The report below shows the effect of alcohol on sleep and recovery. Chart 2 shows that recovery does not start until after 4.00am despite the subject falling asleep at 11.30pm.
Sleep is essential for the sports person. If the quality of recovery during sleep is poor then there may be a risk of overtraining. Overnight monitoring allows Firstbeat HEALTH to evaluate recovery obtained during resting hours.
Benefits to the practitioner
- Objective personalised data highlights stress and recovery levels both during the day and night
- Activity can be analysed to assess work, lifestyle habits, exercise activity and how that may affect sleep
- Sleep patterns can be analysed to assess physiological reactions
Benefits to the patient
- Highly visual objective data shows the quality of sleep and recovery achieved.
- Continuous poor recovery requires a change in lifestyle – the visual data is very motivational.
