Lifestyles and their Influence on Sleep Disorders

Sleep is a complex physiological event that occupies nearly one-third of human life. Poor sleep adversely affects several bodily systems. Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to premature death. Adequate sleep duration and sleep quality are important for a healthy life. For most adults, sleep duration of 7 to 9 hours is healthy. Going to sleep rapidly, sleeping undisturbed through the night, and waking up refreshed are important qualities that should accompany an ideal sleep duration. The determinants of sleep duration and quality are diverse and include several physical and mental health factors. Lifestyle factors also play an important role. The five major lifestyles that adversely impact human health are smoking, obesity, excess alcohol consumption, lack of physical exercise, and an unhealthy diet. These can also disturb sleep duration and sleep quality, leading to sleep disorders. This manuscript provides a narrative review of the various interactions between these lifestyles and human sleep.