Sleep plays a vital role in keeping your mind and body healthy as it works to heal all parts of the body helping you to feel well prepared for the following day’s activities. It makes such a huge difference in fact that a lack of sleep over time can even cause chronic physical and mental health conditions. With this being said, in this blog we will be discussing the top five health benefits that can be achieved through a proper sleep schedule as well as the risks that can result from prolonged sleep deprivation.
More productive
Being well rested helps your energy levels to increase resulting in a better mood and a sharper mind than you would be experiencing without your recommended eight hours of sleep. Sleep has even been connected to improved concentration as well as higher cognitive function both of which are needed to achieve most personal and work-related goals.
Healthy heart
Not getting enough sleep not only causes your mind to suffer but also can lead to
heart health problems like high blood pressure or heart attacks. The reason for this is that a lack of sleep triggers your body to release the stress hormone called cortisol which makes your heart beat faster and harder than normal. Just like every other part of your body, your heart needs to rest and recover each night in order to continue to function properly.
Boost immune system
When you allow your body to get the rest that it needs, you are strengthening your immune cells and proteins which prepares them to fight off any illness you may encounter. In addition to added protection against common colds or the flu, a healthy sleep schedule has also been proven to make vaccines more effective according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Improves Memory
Do you ever walk into a room and completely forget what you were looking for in the first place? This could be your brain’s way of telling you that it needs more rest than what you are currently giving it. While you sleep your mind is actually processing and working to store your memories from the day. Lack of sleep can disrupt this function which can cause problems for your short term and long term memory overall.
Can help prevent weight gain
Sleep isn’t the secret to weight loss but it can be helpful in preventing excessive weight gain. After a late night work session, you may have noticed that you feel more hungry than usual during and the morning after. This is because a lack of sleep causes the body to produce a hormone that is known for boosting appetites called ghrelin while also causing a decrease in the production of the hormone that tells you when you’re full called leptin. Allowing your body to rest will help you keep these hormones in check and make late night snacking less tempting.
