Art of Life/Donna Parker
Is Sleep Really That Important?
There are many things that we should do every day to stay in good health: exercise, eat well, drink water — the list goes on. But for some reason, sleeping is not high on the list. It should be. According to experts, quality sleep is vital to our physical and mental health. And being sleep deprived can have lasting effects, so it’s time to make sleep a priority.
Contrary to our quiet physical state, the brain is very active during sleep, carrying out many important functions. Sleep is essential to every process in the body, affecting our physical and mental functioning the next day, our ability to fight disease and develop immunity, and our metabolism and chronic disease risk. Sleep is truly interdisciplinary because it touches every aspect of health.
Many underestimate the importance of a good night’s rest. Getting enough sleep is vital to maintaining optimal health and well-being. It is as essential as eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. Conversely, being sleep-deprived negatively affects brain function, including. Cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance are all affected by the amount of sleep that you get.
- 35 percent of Americans do not get the recommended seven hours of sleep each night.
- Roughly 20 percent of Americans have a sleep disorder.
- 97 percent of teenagers get less than the recommended amount of sleep.
- 7 out of 10 college students do not get adequate sleep
To inspire you, here are five key reasons why your body and mind need sleep:
Better concentration and productivity
We all deal with those small disruptions at work — the phone rings, a coworker asks for help, or your boss needs you to handle something — it happens all the time. Those that are sleep-deprived have more trouble refocusing on a task after an interruption compared to someone who’s well-rested. How quickly you are able to jump right back into your original task depends directly on how much sleep you had the night before. Getting a good night’s sleep will also increase your accuracy. Recent research indicates that people are about twice as likely to make mistakes when they are sleep-deprived.
Lower weight gain risk
Research has found that people who are not getting enough sleep were more prone to late-night snacking, and were more likely to choose high-carb snacks. Another way insufficient sleep affects your weight is by triggering a cortisol spike. Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone, and it also controls your mood, motivation, and fear. According to Healthline, over time, high levels of cortisol may cause weight gain and high blood pressure.
Get sick less often
Studies have shown that employees who sleep for five hours a night miss 1 ½ times more workdays due to illness than employees who sleep eight hours a night. People who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. It can also affect how quickly you recover once you do get sick.
Improves mood
We have all been there; a bad night’s sleep makes us grumpy and irritable the next day. A study at the University of Pennsylvania found that participants who were only allowed 4.5 hours of sleep a night for one week were more stressed, temperamental, and mentally fatigued. Once they were allowed sufficient sleep, they reported a dramatic improvement in mood. Conversely, when we wake up refreshed from a good night’s sleep, we are able to handle things better.
Helps with cardiovascular health
Quality sleep is critical to good health, especially for your heart. During sleep, your blood pressure goes down. When you have sleep problems, your blood pressure stays at a higher rate for a longer period of time. This sustained and elevated blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke.
Figure out what works best for you to allow yourself to get a quality night’s sleep every night. It will improve your health, brain function, and mood.
