9 reasons why
good sleep is important
Lack of sleep can make you fat
Poor sleep is strongly linked to weight gain. People with short sleep duration tend to weigh significantly more than those who get adequate sleep. In fact, short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity. The effect of sleep on weight gain is mediated by numerous factors, including hormones and motivation to exercise. Sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of the hormones that make you feel hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin). When you don’t get enough sleep, your level of ghrelin goes up and your level of leptin goes down. This makes you feel hungrier than when you’re well-rested. If you’re trying to lose weight, getting quality sleep is absolutely crucial.
Poor sleep can lead to Premature Aging and Increased Inflammation
Sleep can have a major effect on inflammation in your body. In fact, sleep loss is known to activate undesirable markers of inflammation and cell damage. Cortisol levels naturally decrease while we sleep, lower levels of cortisol allow your skin to regenerate and protect itself. Miss out on sleep, though, and that cycle is disrupted. Persistently high cortisol levels can interfere with how well our bodies heal and contribute to the breakdown of collagen leading to premature aging.
Good Sleep Can Improve Concentration and Productivity
Getting enough quality sleep at the right times helps you function well throughout the day. People who are sleep deficient are less productive at work and school. They take longer to finish tasks, have a slower reaction time, and make more mistakes. Sleep helps your brain work properly. While you’re sleeping, your brain is preparing for the next day. It’s forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. Studies show that a good night’s sleep improves learning. Whether you’re learning math, how to play
Poor Sleep can affect your mood and emotional balance
Studies show that sleep deficiency alters activity in some parts of the brain. If you are sleep deficient, you may have trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling your emotions and behavior, and coping with change. Sleep deficiency also has been linked to depression, suicide, and risk-taking behavior. Children and teens who are sleep deficient may have problems getting along with others. They may feel angry and impulsive, have mood swings, feel sad or depressed, or lack motivation. They also may have problems paying attention, and they may get lower grades and feel stressed.
Sleep is vital for a properly functioning immune system
Your immune system relies on sleep to stay healthy. This system defends your body against foreign or harmful substances. Ongoing sleep deficiency can change the way in which your immune system responds. For example, if you are sleep deficient, you may have trouble fighting common infections.
We Heal and Grow When we Sleep
Sleep not only supports healthy growth and development in adults. Deep sleep triggers the body to release the hormone that promotes normal growth in children and teens. This hormone also boosts muscle mass and helps repair cells and tissues in children, teens, and adults. Sleep also plays a role in puberty and fertility.
Getting plenty of sleep can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke
Sleep plays an important role in your physical health. For example, sleep is involved in the healing and repair of your heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.
Sleep Affects Glucose Metabolism and Diabetes Risk
Sleep affects how your body reacts to insulin, the hormone that controls your blood glucose (sugar) level. Sleep deficiency results in a higher than normal blood sugar level, which may increase your risk for diabetes.
Poor Sleep is linked to Depression
Mental health issues, such as depression, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders. Poor sleep is even associated with an increased risk of death by suicide.
We spend a third of our lives sleeping or trying to and yet often people report having trouble getting to sleep, waking to feel unrested and not getting enough sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in our good health and wellbeing.
Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help to support not just your physical wellbeing but also your mental health, quality of life, emotional balance and physical appearance.
To understand why sleep is important, think of your body like a factory that performs a number of vital functions. As you drift off to sleep, your body begins its night-shift work:
Healing damaged cells
Boosting your immune system
Recovering from the day’s activities
Recharging your heart and cardiovascular system for the next day
