Lifestyle

How Does the Quality Sleep Affect Your Mental Wellbeing

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2022

As you might have noticed, poor quality sleep has immediate adverse effects after pulling an all-nighter or when someone wakes you up before your alarm goes off. However, besides feeling groggy and out of it, did you know that not sleeping well can cause or exacerbate mental health issues?

Taking care of your mental health should be a priority. Mental health being a priority is why you have to ensure your sleep quality doesn’t get compromised. And for that, one of the best things is the Cake Delta 8 Disposable. Cake is a well-known brand, and its Delta 8 disposables are safe, last for hours and come at an attractive price.

Depression

For a long time, depression was known to be what causes you not to get enough sleep, but recent studies show that sleep deprivation can lead to depression. For example, a meta-analysis from 2011 with data from 21 studies found that your chances of getting depression double if you have insomnia.

Suffering from chronic sleep deprivation, which means getting poor quality sleep over long periods, is now known for changing a chemical called serotonin in your brain. The serotonin in your brain is the chemical responsible for keeping you happier when it’s at normal levels. Should these levels drop, you risk getting depression.

ADHD

If you’ve had ADHD since childhood, whether or not you were diagnosed with it, you might find it harder to fall asleep when you grow older. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true, and research has shown that it’s possible to develop ADHD later if your sleep patterns are regularly disturbed over the years.

Researchers found through sleep restriction experiments that getting poor sleep can worsen ADHD symptoms. That can cause you to get more impulsive, over-active, and inattentive than usual. Additionally, a study that involved children with ADHD showed a decline in the intensity of symptoms after the kids’ sleep patterns got restored to normal levels.

Anxiety

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, you need to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep every day to avoid mental health issues like anxiety. Dr. Julia Kogan, a sleep and stress psychology specialist, says your body produces higher cortisol levels when you’re getting enough sleep.

Cortisol is a chemical that’s usually connected with stress as it’s responsible for worsening digestive problems and headaches to make you feel exhausted or anxious. In addition, sleep deprivation intensifies activity in the regions of your brain correlated to anxiety, as stated in a 2013 study in The Journal of Neuroscience.

PTSD

A 2019 meta-analysis and systematic review said that your chances of developing an anxiety disorder like PTSD multiply by three if you have insomnia. Other studies saw people who experience sleep disruptions being at risk of getting PTSD more quickly than people who sleep healthily. Losing out on REM sleep was the prominent factor in increasing this risk.

REM sleep and other stages of sleep are crucial in helping you understand that the stimuli you experience in an unpleasant setting can be harmless. The Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging journal has a study that showed how losing sleep hampers the brain’s function that makes you forget bad memories.

Psychosis

Researchers say if you lie awake in bed often instead of sleeping, the longer you do this, the higher your chances of losing a sense of reality rise. Some of the symptoms you must look out for before the situation worsens include intensifying hallucinations and hazy or racing thoughts.

Psychosis symptoms are now understood to amplify the longer you stay awake and usually start with simple sensory misjudgments. The good news is that if you find yourself with psychosis symptoms due to not sleeping enough, returning your sleep patterns to healthy levels can cure these.

Bipolar disorder

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in September 2017 found that sleep deprivation can trigger manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. Additionally, when you’re experiencing a manic episode, you could feel like you don’t need sleep as you’ll feel extraordinarily energized or alert.

A study in the Translational Psychiatry journal that singled out healthy people found a link between poor sleep and bipolar disorder risk. While this study doesn’t mean you’ll get bipolar disorder by not sleeping enough, it does give us enough reason to want to prevent that possibility.

Conclusion

You can avoid developing or making many mental health conditions worse by simply spending more time asleep. However, just sleeping may not always be easy. So look for ways to curb abnormal sleeping patterns and contact your doctor should you think you have a sleep disorder.

Lifestyle

Duravo’s Success Story: Engineering the Perfect Suitcase

Published

5 days ago

September 11, 2024

Michelle Langton

Photo credit: Duravo

By: Mae Cornes

When Matt Muhr and Dan Cooper founded Duravo, they started with something other than luggage design. Instead, their journey began unexpectedly: the world of tactical and anti-ballistic gear. This unconventional background led them to discover a self-reinforced composite material used in professional sports equipment, military gear, and automotive components.

Working closely with a German engineering team, Muhr and Cooper developed Flexshell™, a material that combines strength and lightness. “We saw an opportunity to bring advanced materials science to an industry that hadn’t seen significant innovation in decades,” Muhr explained.

A Lightweight Contender in a Heavy-Duty Market

Duravo’s entry into the luggage market came at a time when established brands dominated the landscape. However, the company’s focus on material innovation sets it apart from competitors.

The Duravo International, an expandable carry-on, weighs just 5 pounds, making it significantly lighter than many competitors’ offerings. This weight reduction doesn’t come at the cost of durability or capacity. The suitcase expands from 37 liters to 46 liters, providing travelers with flexibility without exceeding airline size restrictions.

Cooper noted, “Our goal wasn’t just to make another suitcase. We wanted to change how people think about luggage durability and weight fundamentally.”

Rigorous Testing: Proving Durability in the Lab and on the Road

To validate its claims about Flexshell’s durability, Duravo invested heavily in product testing. The company reports subjecting its luggage to weighted tumble tests, extreme drop tests, and thousands of handle yanks.

The company does not publicly share specific test results, but it states that Flexshell provides five times the strength of traditional plastics used in luggage. This claim would represent a significant advancement in luggage materials if independently verified.

Technology Integration: Beyond Basic Storage

Duravo’s products incorporate several tech-friendly features, reflecting the changing needs of modern travelers. The luggage includes built-in USB access for charging devices, a hidden sleeve for tracking devices like AirTags, and compartments designed to protect electronics during travel.

These additions address common pain points for travelers, such as keeping devices charged and preventing lost luggage. However, it’s worth noting that some of these features, such as USB charging ports, are becoming increasingly common in premium luggage offerings.

Market Performance and Customer Reception

Since its launch a year ago, Duravo reports generating over 1,500 customers. While this number suggests steady growth, it’s modest compared to established brands in the luggage industry. The company currently limits its market to the U.S. and Canada, indicating potential for expansion.

The company reports positive customer reviews, a critical factor in the luggage industry, with an online star rating of 5 out of 5. However, independent verification of these ratings and a larger sample size would provide a more comprehensive picture of customer satisfaction.

Challenges and Competition in a Crowded Market

Despite its inventive method, Duravo faces significant challenges. Established brands like Away, Monos, and Tumi command substantial market share and brand recognition in a highly competitive luggage market.

Duravo’s focus on high-end materials and manufacturing in Germany will likely result in higher production costs. This could make it difficult for the company to compete on price with brands that manufacture in regions with lower production costs.

Environmental Considerations and Future Directions

Duravo emphasizes the eco-friendly nature of its products, stating that Flexshell is recyclable. However, specific data on the material’s environmental impact throughout its lifecycle is not readily available. As sustainability becomes increasingly important for consumers, more transparent and detailed environmental information could benefit the company’s market position.

Duravo’s success may hinge on its ability to scale production while maintaining quality, expand its product line, and effectively communicate its value proposition to a broader audience. The luggage industry’s recovery and growth following the COVID-19 pandemic will also play a crucial role in shaping the company’s trajectory.

As Duravo continues developing its brand and product line, its story is an interesting case study in bringing materials innovation to a well-established consumer goods category. The company’s future success will depend on its ability to balance innovation with market demands and effectively compete with more prominent, established brands.