Just like exercise is an integral part of a healthy life, so is the sleep. While we always come across recommendations that stress the importance of an active lifestyle, we somewhere forget that an adequate sleep is also necessary to maintain a good health. About 20-40% of adults face insomnia at some point of their lives. 4 out of 5 people have complaint of inadequate sleep.
It is recommended to have 6-8 hours of sleep in 24 hours. People who sleep for less than 6 hours in 24 hours may experience many negative effects on their daily routine and body functioning. Let’s have a look in to why sleep is important.
- A good night’s sleep prevents chronic diseases
Your sleep pattern is associated with circadian rhythm that is further associated with regulation of different hormones and processes going on in the body. When sleep is improper, the functions of your body are also disturbed leading to different diseases. Research says that people who sleep properly at night have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases and hormonal imbalances.
- A good night’s sleep boosts immunity
A vigilant immune function of the body is also associated with a good sleep. People who keep up with their sleep have a better immunity and fight diseases and infections better. On the other hand, people who are sleep-deprived have a weaker immune system with decreased activity of killer cells of the body.
- A good night’s sleep boosts mood
Lack of sleep is associated with tiredness and inability to perform daily tasks. It also causes irritability and decreased concentration, making you less productive at work. It also interferes with your social life.
- A good night’s sleep keeps you safe
An improper sleep at night leads to daytime sleepiness. Daytime sleepiness is associated with different accidents including roadside accidents while driving to work. It can also lead to medical accidents and negligence at work.
- A good night’s sleep boosts memory and enhance learning
Memory making process has many steps. When you learn something, information is processed before it is saved in your memory. One of these steps is consolidation. This step occurs while a person sleeps. So, when you learn, it becomes better if you sleep afterwards. Memory is enhanced by getting a good night’s sleep.
- A good night’s sleep regulates metabolism
When you sleep, various chemicals are released in your body that take part in metabolism. Carbohydrate metabolism especially occurs during sleep and it also determines storage. Decreased sleep can be associated with increased storage and hence weight gain. Lack of sleep is also associated with increased appetite.
The importance of sleep cannot be stressed enough and above are only a few points that shed light on how much value a proper sleep carries. Improper sleep and insomnia are widely faced issues all over the world. It is necessary to see make sure that you are getting 6-8 hours sleep in 24 hours. If you are unable to sleep despite of taking out time for it, you should get medical help as soon as possible before it starts affecting your body negatively. You can approach a doctor online in no time using our application.
