Just like healthy eating and exercise, getting a good night’s sleep affords significant benefits to the overall health and wellbeing of the body.
Studies have shown that where a good night’s sleep is lacking from an
individual’s daily routine, they run a greater risk of developing health issues such as a weakened immune system, increased likelihood of suffering from diabetes, cancer or stroke, unwelcome weight gain and
cognitive difficulties.
Despite this, we continue to live in a society where sleep deprivation in the name of success is a welcome sacrifice.
According to a study carried out by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2016, one in three adults do not get enough sleep.
Wayne Giles, M.D., director of the CDC’s Division of Population Health, says: “Lifestyle changes such as going to bed at the same time each night; rising at the same time each morning; and turning off or removing televisions, computers, mobile devices from the bedroom, can help people get the healthy sleep they need.”
While it is a common viewpoint that sleeping is a waste of time when there are more “productive” things one could be doing, the action of regularly getting seven to nine hours of sleep serves benefits such as:
1. Helps to Maintain a Strong Immune System
Getting a good night’s sleep ensures that your body gets the much-needed rest and repair it needs to keep your immune system fighting.
This is one of the reasons why, when you are unwell, a doctor may suggest bed rest as sleep supports the cells of your immune system in destroying foreign invaders and memorising them to deal with them in the future.
2. Improved concentration and productivity
When the body is lacking in sleep, your attention, concentration, risk assessments and reaction times may all be negatively affected. This can be particularly dire in the event you will be making an important decision, operating heavy machinery or driving a long distance the following day.
As a result, getting a good night’s sleep can serve the purpose of keeping your energy levels up and preventing your brain from becoming easily distracted throughout the day.
3. Helps Prevent Weight Gain
Sleep deprivation has been identified as one of the strongest risk factors for obesity. So much so that a study conducted by PubMed found that children and adults with short sleep duration were 89 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively, more likely to develop obesity.
The connection between lack of sleep and resultant weight gain has been linked to the body’s release of the hormone ghrelin, which boosts appetite and a reduction in the production of leptin, a hormone that tells you you’re full.
4. Keeps Your Heart Healthy
Just as with strengthening your immune system, getting a good night’s sleep allows your heart to get an opportunity to rest and recharge after a long day.
When you aren’t getting enough sleep, you increase the likelihood of heart-related health problems such as high blood pressure and heart attacks. This is due to the fact that lack of sleep can cause the body to release the hormone cortisol, which triggers your heart to work harder.
5. Lowers Stress Levels
While there may be many factors which account for you feeling stressed, for example, school, work or relationships, getting insufficient sleep can often add further fuel to the flame.
When you are stressed, not only does the body release the stress hormone cortisol, forcing the heart to work harder, but this hormone can also make it difficult for you to fall asleep.
Getting sufficient sleep can therefore help in lowering stress levels as it helps to control the bodies mechanisms (the hormone cortisol), from eliciting a response to the stress.
Comments