6 Reasons Why Good Sleep Is Important

A good night's sleep is very important for your health.

It is just as important as eating healthy and exercising.

Unfortunately, there are many things that can interfere with natural sleep patterns.

People are now getting less sleep than before, and the quality of sleep is also declining.

Here are 10 reasons why good sleep is important.

1. Poor sleep is associated with excess body weight

Poor sleep is strongly associated with weight gain.

People with shorter sleep periods weigh significantly more than those who get enough sleep

In fact, short sleep periods are one of the strongest risk factors for obesity.

In a comprehensive review study, children and adults with shorter sleep periods were 89% and 55% more likely to be obese, respectively.

The effect of sleep on weight gain is thought to be mediated by a number of factors, including hormones and motivation to exercise.

If you are trying to lose weight, getting quality sleep is crucial.

2. Good sleep can improve concentration and productivity

Sleep is important for various aspects of brain function.

These include intelligence, concentration, productivity and performance

Lack of sleep has all these negative effects.

The study on medical intern provides a good example.

 Interns on a traditional schedule with extended working hours of more than 24 hours made 36% more serious medical errors than interns on a schedule that allowed more sleep.

Another study found that short sleep can have a negative effect on certain aspects of brain function, such as alcohol intoxication.

On the other hand, good sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance the memory of both children and adults.

 

3. Poor sleepers have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke

Sleep quality and duration can have a big impact on many health risk factors.

These are the factors that cause chronic diseases, including heart disease.

A review of 15 studies found that people who did not get enough sleep had a higher risk of heart disease or stroke than those who got 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

4. Poor sleep is associated with depression

Mental health problems, such as depression, are strongly associated with poor sleep quality and sleep disorders.

It is estimated that 90% of people with depression complain about poor sleep quality

Poor sleep is also associated with an increased risk of dying from suicide

People with sleep disorders such as insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea also report significantly higher rates than people without depression.

5. Sleep improves your immune function

Even a slight loss of sleep weakens the immune system

A large 2-week study observed the development of a common cold after people were given nasal drops with the common cold virus.

They found that people who slept less than 7 hours were about 3 times more likely to catch a cold than those who slept 8 hours or more.

If you have frequent colds, making sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep each night can be very helpful. Eating more garlic can also help.

6. Sleep affects emotions and social interactions

Sleep deprivation reduces your ability to socialize.

This has been confirmed by several studies using emotional facial recognition tests

One study found that people who did not sleep had a reduced ability to recognize the expressions of anger and happiness.

Researchers believe that poor sleep affects your ability to recognize important social cues and process emotional information.

 Bottom line

Good sleep along with nutrition and exercise is one of the pillars of health.

You just can't get better health without taking care of your sleep.