A good night's sleep on your favorite
bed mattress is very important for your health, it’s just as important as eating healthy and staying active. People are now sleeping less than they did in the past, and sleep quality has decreased a lot. The amount of sleep needed by a person varies with age. Infants need 10-12 hours, adolescents need around 9 hours of sleep a night and adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep a night. But the bottom line is that people who get less than 6 to 7 hours of sleep each night are at a greater risk of suffering from health issues. Read on to find out how sleeping more keeps your body and mind healthy.
1. A healthier heart
While we sleep, our blood pressure goes down. This gives the heart and blood vessels a bit of a rest as they don’t have to work as hard. This is the reason why heart attacks and strokes are more likely to occur during the early morning hours. Poor sleep interacts with the blood vessels making it more likely for heart problems Lack of sleep is linked to the worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, which are the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Your heart will be healthier if you get at least 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night.
2. Sharper Brain
When you run low on sleep, you'll have trouble holding onto thoughts and recalling details. This is because sleep plays a huge part in learning and memory. With poor sleep, it's tough to focus and process new information. During sleep, your body rests, but the brain is busy processing your day, making links between events, sensory inputs, emotions, and memories. When there isn’t sufficient sleep your brain doesn't have enough time to properly store memories making it difficult to recall them later. Sleep allows your brain to catch up on your thoughts so you're ready for the next day.
3. Prevents Weight gain
Shorter sleep duration (less than 8 hours) is associated with an increased risk of weight gain and obesity for both children and adults. People with shorter sleep duration t weigh significantly more than those who get adequate sleep (7-9 hours a day) The effect of sleep on weight gain is linked to numerous factors, including hormones and less motivation to exercise. If you’re trying to lose weight, getting quality sleep is the most important step. Poor sleep affects hormones that regulate feelings of hunger and metabolism. Those who get enough sleep tend to eat fewer calories than those who don't. Sleep-deprived people have a bigger appetite and eat more calories leading to weight gain. Sleep deprivation leads to higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that enhances appetite, and reduced levels of leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite. This causes you to binge eat and gain weight.
4. You feel happier
rnYour brain processes your emotions while you sleep. Your mind needs this time in order to recognize your thoughts and react the right way. When sleep is cut short, you end up having more negative reactions and fewer positive ones. Chronic lack of sleep raises the chance of having a mood disorder. When you experience sleeplessness, you're five times more likely to develop depression, anxiety or panic disorders. Your mental health greatly suffers when you function on poor sleep.
5. Stronger Immune System
The immune system helps your body to ward off illnesses. The immune system identifies harmful bacteria and viruses that have entered your body and takes action to destroy them. rnA consistent lack of sleep changes the way your immune cells work. They don’t attack as quickly, making you fall sick more often. When your body functions on poor sleep, the immune system will have a harder time responding to your cells' needs and blood sugar levels. Good rest every night can help you avoid worn-out feelings and spending days in bed while your body tries to recover from illnesses.
6. Prevent Cancer
Did you know that people who consistently work the night shift have a higher risk of developing breast and colon cancer? Studies reveal that light exposure reduces melatonin levels. Melatonin is a sleep hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It is also known to protect against cancer by suppressing the growth of tumors. Keeping your bedroom is dark and avoiding electronics before bed helps your body produce the melatonin it needs for restful and uninterrupted sleep.
7. Prevents Inflammation
Sleep influences your body's inflammatory responses. Poor sleep is a major cause of inflammatory bowel diseases and it can also increase your risk of disease recurrence. Poor sleep leads to increased stress hormones, this raises the level of inflammation in your body. This creates a greater risk for heart conditions, cancer, and diabetes. Higher Inflammation also causes the body to deteriorate faster as we age.rnConclusionrnNutrition, exercise and good sleep are the three pillars of health. Sleep is a time for your body to relax, but it's also a time during which the body is busily repairing damage caused by stress, ultraviolet rays, and other harmful exposure in the environment. More protein is produced by your cells while you are sleeping. These protein molecules are the building blocks for cells, They allow them to repair this damage. So, you cannot achieve optimal health without taking care of your sleep schedule and getting at least 7-9 hours of quality sleep consistently.