Benefits Of Sleep
Benefits Of Sleep
Most people realize that sleep is important for some or
other reason and that there are certain noticeable sleep deprivation effects on
our bodies when we fall out of a healthy sleep pattern. However, many people
don’t know exactly what the benefits of sleep and sleep deprivation effects
are, so this post will provide a general overview on the importance of sleep,
focusing particularly on the benefits of sleep and the effects of sleep
deprivation.
Why Do We Need Sleep?
Research conducted by the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School has revealed that, just as the human body requires and regulates breathing, eating and drinking to survive, sleep is another bodily function that is required and regulated in much the same way. Myriad studies have been undertaken on the requirements of sleep and these studies invariably reveal that sleep plays a crucial part in the promotional of physical and emotional health.
The conclusions of the studies referred to above should
hardly come as a surprise seeing as most of us have personally experienced
having a good night’s sleep and noticed how it makes us feel physically and
mentally rejuvenated. On the flip side, most of us have also experienced nights
where we sleep very little, if at all, and the effects that poor sleep has on
our energy levels as well as our mental and physical stability the following
morning. So it may not be surprising for your to learn that lack of sleep,
amongst other things, impairs your judgment, short-term memory retention and
general mood. These are the short-term sleep deprivation effects and over time
the effects of sleep deprivation become more severe, as noted below.
How Long Should You Sleep For?
Although it would be lovely if all the experts could agree
on an exact figure and say: “Here you go, this is how much sleep you need”,
unfortunately there is no precise number as sleep requirements not only vary in
accordance with age, but they are also individual, meaning that some people
need more sleep than others even though they are the same age and have similar
body types and medical histories. That being said, according to the National
Sleep Foundation, the average healthy adult’s basal sleep – which is the amount
of sleep required on a regular basis for the body to perform optimally – is
about 7 to 8 hours a night. However, what complicates things is that there is
also such a thing as ‘sleep debt’ which is basically unresolved sleep or sleep
that we need to catch up on. So, even though you may have satisfied your basal
sleep needs for a few nights in a row, it is still possible that your body is
not performing optimally as a result of accumulated sleep debt.
What Are The Benefits Of Sleep?
Countless studies have shown that people who get optimal
sleep generally live longer and are healthier mentally and physically than
those who don’t sleep enough or even sleep too much. Below I will discuss some
of the more pin-pointed benefits of sleep which support this view:
Reparation and Rejuvenation
During sleep our bodies produce protein molecules which
strengthen the immune system and thus its ability to fight infectious bacteria
and toxins.
The Heart
Sleep addresses inappropriate levels of stress and
inflammation which put strain on the cardiovascular system and are strongly
linked to strokes and heart conditions. Sleep also helps to regulate other
health factors such cholesterol and blood pressure, two notorious culprits of
heart disease.
Improves Mental Health
It’s no secret that people tend to become irritable or moody
on days following a poor night’s sleep and it is likely you have experienced
this yourself personally or from friends and family. While irritability may be
one of the harmless sleep deprivation effects, if the poor sleep pattern
persists for a prolonged period, this may lead to more severe mental conditions
such as depression or generalized anxiety.
Memory Improvement
You may have noticed how things seem to feel a bit ‘hazy’ or
you battle to think clearly or concentrate when you are sleep deprived. This is
because it is not just our bodies that get tired, but our brains as well. The
brain needs us to sleep so that it can have time to process and organize
memories and recent experiences.
Maintain Healthy Weight
Our appetites are regulated by hormones in the body, which
become imbalanced if we fail to get adequate sleep and cause our appetites to
increase, though not for healthy foods like fruit and veg, but for saturated
fats and carbohydrates.
Lower Risk Of Diabetes
Recent studies indicate that the way in which the human body
processes glucose (a carbohydrate which cells use as fuel) can be detrimentally
affected by inadequate sleep and this can ultimately lead to type-2 diabetes.
In a study conducted by the Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School,
a group of healthy people were found to process glucose significantly slower
after having reduced their sleep from 8 hours to 4 hours.
Lowers Stress And Anxiety
Sleeping well at night help to reduce levels of the stress
hormone cortisol, which is are ever rising in our fast-paced high octane
lifestyles. The importance of eliminating stress in the body cannot be
overstated. According to prominent medical practitioners and authors of the
best-selling book ‘The Healing Code’, there is one aspect of disease which
apparently (just about) all medical practitioners agree on, and that is that
all disease is caused by stress. Without stress, there is no disease our immune
systems are incapable of healing.
Sleep Deprivation Effects
The effects of sleep deprivation are intertwined with the
benefits of sleep discussed above. It makes sense that the aspects of your life
which sleep helps to improve are the same aspects which stand to be prejudiced
by a lack of sleep. It is therefore not necessary to list the common sleep
deprivation effects as they are in essence already described above. It is worth
noting however, that in addition to myriad health conditions such as diabetes
and heart disease, sleep deprivation can cause actual physical pain, such as
headaches and joint pain.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be seen that the benefits of sleep are quite comprehensive and that when you take away these benefits, you are left with serious sleep deprivation effects that will inevitably cause severe problems for your health and quality of life. The importance of sleep can therefore not be overstated and you are concerned for your health and happiness, you ought to make having a good, healthy sleeping pattern a top priority.
