Sleep is a basic need of every human being. But the fact is your survival literally depends on your ability to sleep. Cortisol, a hormone released during stress has a very powerful influence on sleep and waking in an individual. Cortisol interacts with our circadian rhythms and sleep cycles.

What is Cortisol?

It is a stress hormone produced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). HPA includes the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland. For the production of cortisol, the hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary gland which in turn releases a substance known as corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH sends another hormone into your bloodstream that is adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).  ACTH travels through blood and cues the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. It is a complex and sensitive feedback loop and it has a profound effect on our body, mind, and sleep.

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Relationship Between Sleep and Stress Hormones

Sleep is natural, easily reversible periodic state of mind of an individual that is marked by the absence of wakefulness and by the loss of consciousness of one’s surroundings, is accompanied by a typical body posture, the occurrence of dreaming, and changes in brain activity is called as sleep.

Why is Sleep Important For Us?

Sleep keeps us healthy and functioning better. It lets our repair, restore and reenergizes body and brain. If you do not get enough sleep of almost 8 hours you may find side effects like poor memory and loss of focus, weakened immunity, and instant mood changes. [Read more…]

Why Sleep Should Be Your #1 Defense Against Stress

Stress-related sleep disorders are on the rise today. Our hectic routines have made it difficult for us to get proper rest. With every passing day, people are becoming more negligent towards their health.

According to the CDC, 35.2% of the adult American population sleeps for less than seven hours a day. That is why the number of patients with sleep disorders is increasing day by day. More and more people are complaining of health problems such as insomnia, hypertension, and depression. [Read more…]

Stress Less and Sleep Better

All coaches must understand stress management and how it’s connected to personal success, performance, fulfilling relationships, and optimal sleep health.

To begin with, it is essential to differentiate between acute stress and chronic stress. Short-term stress may be beneficial or protective; it is merely like ringing the alarm bell in response to a specific threat. Acute stress is also called “fight or flight response.” It provides a short burst of energy, helping ward off the danger. The short-term adrenalin rush mainly characterizes such an acute reaction.

However, chronic stress is altogether a different thing; it is like keeping the alarm button pressed continually, and in many cases for no apparent reason, just due to a perceived threat. The human body is not created to remain in a state of psychological and physiological alarm continually. [Read more…]