Stanifer1

Mackenzie Stanifer

Professor Loudermilk

English 1201

30 April, 2020

Literature Review

My research question is: How does sleep affect one's mental and physical health?

All too often we hear how important sleep is to our health, but have you ever actually

heard the words “sleep” and “health” side by side before? I know I hadn’t until starting the

research for this essay. Although there is a significant correlation between them, we often don’t

hear them put together. In order to gain a better understanding of the point I’m trying to convey

within this essay, it’s important that this term be defined. Doctor Daniel Buysse, a MD who

specializes in Sleep Disorders defines Sleep Health as, “a multidimensional pattern of sleep-

wakefulness, adapted to individual, social, and environmental demands, that promotes physical

and mental well-being.”

Leading edge scientists and researchers complied and collected data on sleep. Taking

over two years in its completion process, the results were this, an updated, world-class study on

the recommended amount of sleep each individual needs par age. This information was then

presented by The National Sleep Foundation and their recommendations are as follows (“How

Much Sleep Do We Really Need,” n.d.):

 Teenagers (14-17): Sleep range widened by one hour to 8-10 hours

 Younger adults (18-25): Sleep range is 7-9 hours (new age category)

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 Adults (26-64): Sleep range did not change and remains 7-9 hours

 Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7-8 hours (new age category) 

One hour of sleep is all it takes to make a world of difference when it comes to your

cardiovascular system. A major example of sleep at work in your cardiovascular system is in the

spring time when we loss an hour. According to statistics presented by Matthew Walker, the day

following Daylights Savings Time, there is a 24% spike in heart attacks. Conversely, when we

gain an hour back, there is 21% in heart attack rates (Walker, 2019 ). The National Sleep

Foundation also presented on article on how those who have a job where they work rotating or

night shifts are at a much higher risk in developing a cardiovascular disease as well as coronary

heart disease (“ How Atypical Work,” n.d.).

Sleep plays a tremendous role into one’s mental health and sense of well-being. Mental

health is complicated and can be difficult to define in any one category. It includes not only your

psychological well-being but also emotional and social well-being. It affects the way we feel,

how we think, and even how we act. And the state of our mental health can result in how stress is

handled, as well as how we relate to others (“What Is Mental Health,”2019).

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Works cited

Buysse, Daniel J. “Sleep health: can we define it? Does it matter?.” Sleep vol. 37,1 9-17. 1 Jan.

2014,doi:10.5665/sleep.3298. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3902880/

Accessed 30 April, 2020.

“How Atypical Work Schedules Affect Performance.” National Sleep Foundation,

SleepFoundation.org, www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-atypical-work-schedules-

affect-performance. Accessed 30 April 2020.

“How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?” National Sleep Foundation, SleepFoundation.org,

www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need. Accessed 30

April 2020.

“What Is Mental Health?” What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov, Department of Health &

Human Services, 5 Apr. 2019, www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health.

Accessed 3 May 2020.

Walker, Matt. “Sleep Is Your Superpower.” TED, 2019,

www.ted.com/talks/matt_walker_sleep_is_your_superpower?language=en. Accessed 30

April 2020.