We are beginning to understand the importance of sleep to overall health and well-being. In fact, when people get less than 6 or 7 hours of sleep each night, their risk for developing diseases begins to increase.
Click here to read the top 10 benefits of a good night's sleep.
1. Sleep Keeps Your Heart Healthy: Lack of sleep has been associated with worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
2.Sleep May Prevent Cancer: People working the late shift have a higher risk for breast and colon cancer. Light exposure reduces the level of melatonin, a hormone that both makes us sleepy and is thought to protect against cancer. Melatonin appears to suppress the growth of tumors.
3. Sleep Reduces Stress: When your body is sleep deficient, it goes into a state of stress. The body's functions are put on high alert which causes an increase in blood pressure and a production of stress hormones. The stress hormones also, unfortunately, make it harder for you to sleep.
4. Sleep Reduces Inflammation: The increase in stress hormones raises the level of inflammation in your body. Inflammation is thought to one of the causes of the deterioration of your body as you age.
5. Sleep Makes You More Alert: Being engaged and active not only feels great, it increases your chances for another good night's sleep.
6. Sleep Bolsters Your Memory: A process called memory consolidation occurs during sleep. While your body may be resting, your brain is busy processing your day, making connections between events, sensory input, feelings and memories.
7. Sleep May Help You Lose Weight: Researchers have also found that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to be overweight or obese. It is thought that the lack of sleep impacts the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite.
8. Naps Make You Smarter: Napping during the day is not only an effective and refreshing alternative to caffeine, it can also protect your health and make you more productive. Napping also improves memory, cognitive function and mood.
9. Sleep May Reduce Your Risk for Depression: Sleep impacts many of the chemicals in your body, including serotonin. People with a deficiency in serotonin are more likely to suffer from depression.
10. Sleep Helps the Body Make Repairs: Sleep is a time for your body to repair damage caused by stress, ultraviolet rays and other harmful exposures. Your cells produce more protein while you are sleeping. These protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, allowing them to repair damage.
Source: By Mark Stibich, Ph.D., About.com Guide; verified by its Medical review board
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