9 Reasons Why Sleep Is Important

Why Is Sleep Important?

In this blog Dr Rachel Hall shares 9 reasons why sleep is important.

Well, all know that sleep is an important part of a holistic lifestyle. If we don’t get a good nights sleep we feel rotten, tired and exhausted the next day. But did you know sleep does more than make you feel refreshed the next day?

Reasons To Get A Good Nights Sleep

Sleep helps to:

1. Keep your heart rate healthy
   Heart attacks and strokes are more common during the early morning hours. This fact may be explained by the way sleep interacts with the blood vessels. Lack of sleep has been associated with worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Your heart will be healthier if you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.
2. Reduce Stress
   When your body is sleep deficient, it goes into a state of stress. The body’s functions are put on high alert which causes an increase in blood pressure and a production of stress hormones. Higher blood pressure increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes. The stress hormones also, unfortunately, make it harder for you to sleep. Learn relaxation techniques to counter the effects of stress. There are also stress reduction techniques for sleep.
3. Reduce Inflammation
   The increase in stress hormones raises the level of inflammation in your body, also creating more risk for heart-related conditions, as well as cancer and diabetes. Inflammation is thought to one of the causes of the deterioration of your body as you age.
4. Make You More Alert
   Of course, a good night’s sleep makes you feel energized and alert the next day. Being engaged and active not only feels great, but it also increases your chances for another good night’s sleep. When you wake up feeling refreshed, use that energy to get out into the daylight, do active things, and be engaged in your world. You’ll sleep better the next night and increase your daily energy level.
5. Bolster Your Memory
   Researchers do not fully understand why we sleep and dream, but a process called memory consolidation occurs during sleep. While your body may be resting, your brain is busy processing your day, making connections between events, sensory input, feelings and memories. Your dreams and deep sleep are an important time for your brain to make memories and links. Getting more quality sleep will help you remember and process things better.
6. Lose Weight
   Researchers have also found that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to be overweight or obese. It is thought that the lack of sleep impacts the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite. The hormones ghrelin and leptin, important for the regulation of appetite, have been found to be disrupted by lack of sleep. So if you are interested in controlling or losing weight, don’t forget to pay attention to getting a good night’s sleep.
7. Make You Smarter
   Napping during the day is not only an effective and refreshing alternative to caffeine, but it can also protect your health and make you more productive. A study of 24,000 Greek adults showed that people who napped several times a week had a lower risk for dying from heart disease. People who nap at work have much lower levels of stress. Napping also improves memory, cognitive function and mood.
8. Reduce Your Risk for Depression
   Sleep impacts many of the chemicals in your body, including serotonin. People with a deficiency in serotonin are more likely to suffer from depression. You can help to prevent depression by making sure you are getting the right amount of sleep, between 7 and 9 hours each night.
9. Repair The Body
   Sleep is a time for your body to repair damage caused by stress, ultraviolet rays and other harmful exposures. Your cells produce more protein while you are sleeping. These protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, allowing them to repair the damage.

Note: not everyone requires 7-9 hours sleep some live very well and full of energy on less sleep than this, however, the key is to relax and wind down before sleep and the best approach appears to be early to bed early to rise to get the most benefit from the healing and regenerative capacities of sleep.