Sofa Sleeping Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep

It may seem innocent, but it's probably getting in the way of good rest.

Falling asleep on the sofa can feel like an easy way to unwind after a long day. As mental fatigue sets in, dozing off there can feel effortless and comforting.

But sleep experts warn that regularly drifting off outside the bedroom can undermine sleep health over time.

“Good sleep quality isn’t just about getting enough hours. It depends on adequate duration, typically seven to nine hours for most adults, intact sleep architecture, and proper circadian alignment – meaning your sleep occurs at the biologically appropriate time for your internal clock,” said Dr. Saema Tahir, an adult and paediatric sleep specialist, and adolescent and adult pulmonary disease specialist.

And sofa sleep could be throwing that out of whack.

Most adults cycle through four distinct sleep stages, including light sleep, deeper light sleep, deep sleep and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, ideally about four to six times per night in repeating cycles, according to Tahir.

Each stage plays a specific role. While deep sleep supports physical repair, immune support and metabolic regulation, REM sleep is critical for memory consolidation and emotional regulation.

“When sleep is shortened, fragmented or misaligned with your circadian rhythm, you lose restorative stages – and that directly translates into poorer concentration, slower reaction time, increased irritability, higher stress hormones and impaired glucose regulation the next day,”........

© HuffPost