It’s essential for us to get enough sleep so that we will be able to maintain our optimal well-being. According to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, chronic sleep loss can contribute to a range of health problems including a decrease in the immune system’s power, weight gain, and high blood pressure.
Sleep is considered to be as important as eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. Here are the reasons why:
Helps Reduce Stress
Our body goes into a state of stress when we are sleep deficient. This increases the production of stress hormones and our risk of high blood pressure. The stress hormones make it harder to fall asleep while high blood pressure increases our risk for heart attack and stroke.
We can counteract the effects of stress and fall asleep faster by learning some relaxation techniques.
Helps Keep The Heart Healthy
High blood pressure is one of the risk factors for heart diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that getting adequate rest each night allows the body’s blood pressure to regulate itself. This can help reduce our chances of sleep-related conditions such as apnea and promote better overall heart health.
Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night can make our hearts healthier.
Helps Provide Better Concentration And Productivity
Various studies revealed that sleep deprivation may have effects on several brain functions including concentration, productivity, and cognition.
In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, results showed that sleep patterns of children can have a direct impact on their behavior and academic performance.
Helps Reduce Inflammation
Lack of sleep increases levels of stress hormones which have been associated with the rising level of inflammations in our body. Due to this, our body may suffer from an increased risk of heart-related conditions, cancer, and diabetes.
Helps Lower Weight Gain Risk
Lack of sleep is thought to impact the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite. There were studies showing that people who have less sleep at night are more likely to gain weight or become obese. Insufficient hours of sleep disrupt the hormones ghrelin and leptin, which both regulate appetite.
For those who want to lose or maintain their weight, adequate sleep on a regular basis is beneficial.
