Sleep is essential for good health yet many of us are sleep deprived.
We need to make sleep a priority for many reasons.
1. How Sleep Deficiency Can Affect You
Shorting yourself on shut-eye has a negative impact on your health in many ways.
You will be less alert even if you miss as little as 1.5 hours of sleep. Lack of alertness increases the likelihood of car accidents.
You will feel sleepy during the day.
Your memory will be impaired as your ability to think, remember and process information.
It can make you feel moody and more likely to enter a conflict.
You will be less eager participate in normal daily activities or feel too tired to exercise.
Chronic sleep deprivation can result in serious health problems such as obesity, depression, weaker immunity, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure or stroke. Other potential problems include obesity, depression, impairment in immunity and lower sex drive.
There’s also a link between lack of sleep and an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol, which triggers further inflammation in the body and breaks down collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth. Beauty-wise, sleep deprivation can lead to premature wrinkling and dark circles under the eyes that no concealer can hide.
2. Benefits of Sleep
Getting a full night of quality sleep is beneficial in many ways.
A stronger immune system
While we sleep, our immune system gets a well-deserved rest it needs to fight off enemies such as viruses. During sleep, we flush out the toxins even from our brain. It’s our body’s time to detox and recharge for the new day ahead. Proper sleep even makes vaccines more effective.
A healthy sleep patterns helps us stay fit
Staying up late at night makes our body produce ghrelin, a hormone that boosts appetite, simply because it needs the energy to stay up. At the same time, it reduces the production of leptin, a hormone that tells us we are full. Late night snacks usually lead to weight gain. Read about The European Business Review
Sleep is good for the heart
Lack of sleep makes our bodies produce more stress hormone cortisol to stay awake and alert. Cortisol makes our heart work faster when it should have a rest that it needs to function optimally.
Having a good night’s sleep helps us feel good
If you don’t sleep well, odds are you will be cranky.
Sleep well to perform well
One sleepless night can leave us feeling frazzled. Brain fog or lack of coordination both increase the likelihood of mistakes that no pot of coffee can fix. Sleep allows our brain to process and consolidate information we gathered, just like it allows the body to rest and reset.
3. Investing In Your Sleep With These Tips
Here are a few evidence-based tips that will ensure you get a good night’s sleep.
Make time for downtime
Going to bed right after watching an action movie or doing an exercise isn’t the best idea. Make the time to unwind by taking a relaxing bath, listening to relaxing music, stretching or meditating. Send your mind the message that you are getting ready to go to sleep. Create a routine that helps clear your mind and relax.
Ensure your bedroom’s environment supports a good night’s sleep
Invest in quality sleep products such as a comfy mattress, ergonomic pillow and soft sheets that can do wonders for your sleep quality. While you’re at it, add thick blackout curtains to block the light and insulate the room as temperature is also an important factor. Making sure it’s not too warm or too cold will benefit your sleep quality and help you to lower your Infinite Energy costs. Make sure your bedroom is a quiet, relaxing, clean, and enjoyable place.
Consider supplements
Although supplements are not magic wands that will fix any sleep issues, they can help when combined with other sleep strategies. Lavender has a soothing, calming and anti-inflammatory effect with a widely adored scent if you choose to just spray a bit of oil on your pillow. Valerian root helps your body relax and fall asleep easily. Taking an amino-acid like L-theanine before sleep can improve both relaxation and sleep quality.
Takeaway
A minimum of seven hours of sleep is a step in the right direction to improve your health. Quality sleep makes a huge difference in our lives. The bottom line is that sleep is good for you and necessary.