The top six reasons why good sleep is crucial for your health

Are you sleeping well? A great night’s sleep is as important as healthy eating and exercising for well-rounded health. Unfortunately, there are just too many things that can interfere with natural sleep cycles. People will often opt out of sleeping for television, internet use and other forms of entertainment. 

You should set up a sleep schedule to ensure you meet your ideal amount of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends between 7 and 9 hours of sleep for adults. You can use this as a guideline for better rest.

Aside from getting enough sleep, ensuring ideal sleep hygiene can be central to accessing good sleep. You can set this off by sticking to the same schedule over very long amounts of time and practicing a relaxing routine to help you sleep easier. You can also choose a great mattress, beddings and pillows. You could also consider monitoring the food and drink on your plate before bed, as well as doing away with all electronics from your sleep environment.

But why is good sleep great for your health?

Poor sleep habits may cause weight gain – Poor sleep is one of the biggest risk factors for obesity. Poor sleepers tend to weigh more than those who get enough sleep.  Ideal sleep schedules help to balance out hormones and diets, which prevents rapid weight gain. Good sleepers will have minimal fluctuations in appetite hormones, which will minimize their calorie intake as well.  People who stay up longer will also be more likely to take in more snacks, which can have a negative impact on their weight gain.

Poor sleep can affect productivity and concentration – Sleep offers rest and regeneration for the body and mind. The brain is especially dependent on good sleep for improved performance, productivity, cognition and concentration. People with great sleep schedules will have improved problem-solving skills, as well as better cognition and productivity.  Good sleep can enhance athletic performance. People who enjoy consistent amounts of sleep will have firmer steps and higher grip strength than poor sleepers.

Poor sleep can increase your risk of stroke and heart attacks – Sleep deprivation will have a direct impact on your health. Several studies point to an increased risk factor in chronic diseases for people who don’t get enough rest. Poor sleep will cause a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes. It can also impact the immunity function of your body. Getting great amounts of sleep will help you fight off the common cold and boost your immunity.

Poor sleep affects social and emotional interactions – Getting insufficient sleep can increase your risk for depression. People suffering from insomnia and sleep apnea have reported significantly higher rates of depression than good sleepers. Poor sleep can also affect social and emotional interactions. Sleep deprived people will often have a reduced ability to catch social cues or process emotions. This may affect their ability to interact with people around them. If you are feeling cranky and anxious, getting good rest can help improve your outlook.

Poor sleep can affect memory – The mind works during sleep to consolidate and process memory collected throughout the day. You will be better able to form and keep memories by getting enough sleep. Poor sleepers will often have erratic memories, with many often-entire cycles completely.  Getting good sleep can help you strengthen and absorb what you learned during the day while preventing you from feeling foggy or forgetful.

Poor sleep can cut short your lifespan – People who get enough sleep tend to have longer life spans. Several studies point to an increase in mortality rates for people who don’t get enough rest. You will likely live longer and healthier by consistently getting good amounts of sleep.

Final word

Getting good sleep is central to great health. It can protect you from social and emotional distress, anxiety and depression. Good sleep can boost your mind and ensure your body is in great shape.  You will only be able to get good sleep by following a strict sleep schedule and ensuring an ideal sleep environment.  You can enhance your sleep by choosing a great mattress option from these best rated mattresses. Remember to combine the right environment with exercise and nutrition to ensure great sleep.