[One Thousand Characters a Day] Jeong Hui-won's 'The Secret to Aging Slowly' <5>

Editor's NoteSleep deprivation is a super-accelerator of aging. Numerous studies have already revealed that sufficient sleep is essential for maintaining normal health. However, we still tend to be stingy with sleep and often abuse it. Professor Jeong Heewon points out, "If the quantity and quality of sleep are insufficient, not only does the health of the body and mind begin to deteriorate, but one inevitably drifts further away from the life goals they aim to achieve." The very setting of life goals that involve sacrificing sleep to accomplish something is fundamentally flawed. To enhance intrinsic capabilities multidimensionally, one must find and strictly maintain the most appropriate sleep duration for themselves, whether it is 7 or 8 hours. Word count: 1050.

If sleep time is absolutely insufficient, nothing can be changed. For example, no matter how well-designed an exercise program is, muscle mass will not properly increase nor function improve; no matter how healthy the food consumed is, insulin resistance will not improve. After getting enough sleep, it is possible to concentrate normally and carry out daily activities without caffeine or other stimulants. If you have to drink coffee all day to stay awake, there is a problem with the quantity and quality of your sleep.

It is also good to record when you go to bed and wake up. I was shocked to find out through my smartphone that my usual sleep time was only about 5 hours and 50 minutes. Compared to someone who sleeps 7 hours, this increases the risk of dementia by nearly 25 percent. Therefore, it was no wonder that my concentration and creativity were not normal. Once sleep deprivation is confirmed, sleep must be supplemented. If it is difficult to increase sleep time due to environmental constraints, taking naps can be considered as a secondary option. Fundamentally, recovering normal sleep time on weekdays is the top priority. The harm caused by weekday sleep deprivation cannot be resolved by sleeping in on weekends.

We should also consider ways to improve sleep quality. Buying expensive mattresses or bedding advertised to improve sleep quality does not solve the problem. Sleeping pills slightly reduce the time it takes to fall asleep but interfere with the brain’s biochemical and physiological recovery during sleep and the higher mental functions that integrate all mental activities that occurred while awake. Especially, sleeping pills and alcohol disrupt REM sleep. Both REM sleep, where dreaming occurs, and non-REM sleep, where dreaming does not occur, have their own roles. In the early part of sleep, non-REM sleep predominates, while in the latter part, REM sleep predominates. Neither should be lacking, and especially if REM sleep is lost, cognitive function deteriorates. Sleeping pills and alcohol also worsen obstructive sleep apnea. If the body has become overweight due to accelerated aging lifestyle habits and there is usually swelling in the legs, the problem becomes more serious. In such cases, even sleeping 8 hours results in decreased concentration and a feeling of sleepiness throughout the day.

- Jeong Heewon, You Too Can Age Slowly, The Quest, 17,800 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.