We are increasingly aware that a night’s rest affects our energy, our mood and even our ability to think clearly. However, the idea persists that sleeping well is a privilege or a whim for those who can afford it. Faced with this perception, Dr. Miguel Ángel Sáiz, doctor specializing in neurophysiology at the Central Hospital of Andalusia, insists that sleep is not a luxury, but an essential physiological need. In a video shared by the hospital on its TikTok account (@hospitalcentroandalucia), Dr. Sáiz details how sleep influences brain health, the heart, metabolism and our emotional life. Sleep does not simply mean “closing your eyes and resting”, but rather allowing internal processes to occur without which we would not be able to function normally. At night, memories are organized, tissues are repaired, hormones are regulated and the functions that we use on a daily basis without realizing it stabilize. The specialist emphasizes that, when you regularly sleep poorly, it is normal to notice memory problems, irritability, persistent fatigue and even a greater susceptibility to infections. The body is designed to recover while we sleep, so if this time is not respected, an imbalance appears and accumulates. For those who have felt for some time that they are not resting as they should, the Central Hospital of Andalusia offers a sleep consultation led by Dr. Sáiz. There, each case is studied individually, because poor rest can have many different causes: sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, frequent awakenings, metabolic alterations, prolonged stress or habits that unintentionally interrupt sleep. “Our goal is to help you regain balance,” explains the doctor. A sentence that sums up the dynamics of the consultation well: listen, understand what is happening and guide the patient step by step. The idea is not to offer general advice that you have probably already tried, but to analyze the problem in detail and look for solutions tailored to each individual. One of the most important tests in this consultation is nocturnal polysomnography, a study that records different variables of the body throughout the night. Although the name may sound complicated, Dr. Sáiz insists that it is a comfortable, safe and much more bearable test than you might imagine. Hospital equipment allows the person to move, change posture and even get up if necessary. “People generally think that it will be filled with cables without being able to move, but that is not the case,” explains the specialist. The goal is for the person to sleep as closely as possible to what they do at home, so that the data obtained is actually useful. During the test, parameters such as brain activity, breathing, oxygen saturation, body movements or heart rate are collected. With this data, the medical team can clearly see what is happening during sleep and make a diagnosis. According to the doctor, this information “helps us choose the most appropriate treatment and know exactly what we are facing.” Many patients come to the office after months or even years of poor sleep. Sometimes they have normalized their fatigue so much that they no longer remember what it was like to feel well rested. For this reason, Dr. Sáiz insists that sleeping well is not secondary, but is the basis for living with energy, mental clarity and emotional stability. This is why the Central Hospital of Andalusia reminds us that anyone who suspects a sleep disorder can make an appointment for a specialized assessment. The goal is to help you sleep well again, without interruption and with rest that is reflected in how you feel the next day.
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