It could, according to a new study. The research results indicate that it could be down to simply not having drunk enough water the day before.*
Reasons for sleepless nights vary and are often linked to underlying psychological issues, but the new study published in the journal SLEEP, involved more than 20,000 adults in the US and China, all of whom had their sleeping habits and urine samples analysed.
The authors concluded that the links between sleep quality and hydration are down to a hormone in the body called vasopressin.
“Vasopressin is released both more quickly and later on in the sleep cycle,” explains lead author Asher Rosinger, who is an assistant professor at Penn State.
“So, if you’re waking up earlier, you might miss that window in which more of the hormone is released, causing a disruption in the body’s hydration. If you are only getting six hours of sleep a night, it can affect your hydration status. This study suggests that if you’re not getting enough sleep, and you feel bad or tired the next day, drink extra water.”
Although maintaining proper hydration habits should be relatively simple, another survey, carried out on 2,000 people revealed that half of Britons have no idea how much water they should be drinking daily, while a third admitted they fail to keep themselves properly hydrated and don’t drink water unless it’s mixed with something else.
Although opinions vary on how much water should be drunk each day, it seems that increasing one’s water consumption can only help pave the way to a better night’s sleep.
Which is yet another reason to make sure you visit your water cooler regularly during the day, keeping yourself properly hydrated and well prepped for a good night’s rest.
*excerpts from an article in The Independent
