Introduction
I didn’t take my own advice. In fact, I’ve been sleeping less than 7 hours a night for years, even though I know it’s bad for me. But lately, I’ve been waking up with more aches and pains than usual—and not just from being out of shape. Are these aches signs that something more serious is happening? Or do they simply mean that my body needs more sleep? These are the questions that keep me tossing and turning at night (literally).
Why is sleep so important?
You may be wondering why it is so important. It’s a natural part of life, but we don’t think about it much because we’re asleep and don’t realize what our bodies are doing while we’re sleeping. There are many reasons why it is so beneficial to our bodies and minds:
- Sleep helps us to grow and repair tissues in our body. We need more sleep as we get older because our bodies change as the years go by. Without proper rest, your body doesn’t have enough energy to repair itself properly. Not getting enough sleep can lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure that could affect your quality of life later in life.
- Sleep also helps us retain memories from the day before—it’s when a lot of information gets stored in long-term memory! Without enough shuteye, you may find yourself forgetting things from yesterday like where you parked your car or meeting up with a friend at Starbucks (I know I do). This can cause problems if someone asks “Didn’t I tell you this?” when they really didn’t–it makes it difficult for anyone else who needs access too! If there’s anything important going on tomorrow morning then make sure that nothing gets forgotten tonight by making sure everyone has had their fair share before hitting snooze mode.”
What happens if you don’t sleep enough?
It’s not just how you feel that suffers. Sleep deprivation affects your ability to learn new things, so you can’t learn as fast or as well. It also makes it harder for your brain to think clearly and make good decisions, which can affect everything from your mood to the quality of your relationships with other people. Those are just some of the side effects of chronic sleep deprivation!
How to get more sleep
In order to get a good night’s sleep, you need to avoid a few things right before bed:
- Don’t eat a heavy meal right before bed. It’ll take your body longer to digest it, which means you’ll be awake longer.
- Avoid caffeine after lunch. Caffeine can remain in your system for up to six hours and can affect your sleep patterns throughout the evening.
- Don’t watch TV in bed—ever! This is just another way of being stimulated by light and sound, which will keep you from falling and staying asleep as easily.
We need more sleep than we realize.
Studies have shown that 7-9 hours of sleep is the optimal amount. People who get less than 6 hours of it a night are at an increased risk for obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Sleep deprivation can cause brain damage and lead to depression, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep-deprived people also have higher levels of cortisol—the stress hormone—which can cause weight gain and make it harder to lose weight by increasing appetite or slowing down your metabolism.
Get enough sleep for good health.
You need 7 hours of sleep a night to be healthy. However, this number can vary depending on your age and health. If you are young and healthy or suffering from a chronic disease, you may need more than 7 hours of sleep. You may also need less than 7 hours if you are sick or pregnant.
The amount of sleep you need will also depend on your age. The average newborn needs 16 hours of sleep a day, while adults need between 7 and 8 hours.
You need your full eight hours to function the following day.
When you get a good night’s rest, your body goes into repair mode. The brain and other organs are able to restore themselves and prepare for the next day. In fact, sleep is necessary for your body to produce several hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism. When you don’t get enough of it — or when you don’t sleep adequately at night — these functions can be impaired.
It’s also important for memory function, which has been linked to brain health in general. A bad night of sleep may make it harder for you to focus on tasks throughout the day. Given our increasingly digital lives (and those who work remotely), this can make it difficult not just at work but also in relationships with loved ones or daily routines like exercising or cooking dinner from scratch instead of ordering takeout again!
it is the most important thing you can do for your health, so don’t skip it.
it is the most important thing you can do for your health, so don’t skip it.
Sleep deprivation can lead to all sorts of health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. It also increases your risk of depression, obesity and even cancer. In fact, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), “chronic lack of it” has been shown to increase your risk of early death by 44 percent!
Sleep well and avoid chronic diseases.
As you may have heard, it is important for good health. If you don’t get enough sleep, it can lead to a host of chronic diseases and other health problems—including diabetes mellitus (type 2), hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since 1999 the number of adults who reported sleeping 6 hours or fewer per night has increased by a whopping 50%.
This is particularly concerning as insufficient sleep has been linked to higher rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease mortality, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that people who slept less than 6 hours per night had twice as many metabolic syndrome risk factors than those who slept 7 hours each night.
Chronic diseases affect 46% of Americans. They include everything from cancer to Alzheimer’s to depression.
Sleep deprivation is a risk factor for chronic disease, according to the National Sleep Foundation. It affects the body and mind in many ways:
- The body needs sleep to function properly. Without it, you’re more likely to get sick or injured, have trouble concentrating on work or schoolwork and feel fatigued throughout the day.
- The brain needs sleep to function properly. Without enough shut-eye, your cognitive function will be impaired; this means you’ll have trouble remembering things and you’ll be less able to make rational decisions during your waking hours.
- The immune system needs sleep too! If you don’t get enough restful shut-eye at night (or any other time), your immune system may struggle with staying strong enough to fight off infections when they come knocking on your door—especially if they come while you’re asleep at night!
Sleep deprivation is on the rise.
Sleep deprivation is a major problem, and it’s reaching epidemic proportions. It’s currently estimated that 30-50 million Americans suffer from some type of sleep disorder. What’s more, it’s estimated that 90% of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep—and that chronic sleep deprivation is a leading cause of chronic diseases (including obesity) and accidents and injuries in this country. Research shows that even just one night of poor quality or lack of sleep can have consequences for your mental health as well as how well you function physically during the day.
Not sleeping well? It may be time for a mattress upgrade.
But what if your mattress is the problem?
A good night’s sleep matters. It can affect your mood and energy level throughout the day, and it can also have an impact on your general health. Here are some signs that indicate it’s time to upgrade:
- You wake up with back pain or a sore neck
- Moving around in bed is uncomfortable, especially after falling asleep
- You feel like you “toss and turn” all night long—even though there’s no one else in the room with you!
Sleeping just 7 hours a night can help prevent chronic disease
7 hours of sleep a night is the minimum for good health, and it’s what you should aim for.
- chronic disease.
- memory and learning.
- weight loss.
- stress.
- depression and anxiety.
- heart health.
- diabetes risk factors.
Conclusion
You may think that by sleeping less or not enough, you’re saving yourself. But what happens when you get sick? You’ll need to spend more money on medical bills and possibly miss work due to illness. That’s why it’s important that you get enough sleep every night—and if you don’t have time for an eight-hour slumber, try napping instead!