Along with nutrition and
exercise, taking care of your sleep is one of the pillars of health.
Lack of sleep is associated
with many negative health effects, including increased risk of heart disease,
depression, weight gain, inflammation, and sickness.
Though individual needs
vary, most research suggests that you should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep
per night for optimal health.
Just like you prioritize
your diet and physical activity, it’s time to give sleep the attention it
deserves.
Getting a good night’s
sleep is incredibly important for your health. In fact, it’s just as important
as eating a balanced, nutritious diet and exercising.
Though sleep needs vary
from person to person, most adults require between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per
night. Yet, up to 35% of adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep
Sleep deprivation can put
your health and safety at risk, which is why it’s essential that you prioritize
and protect your sleep on a daily basis.
The following tips are the reasons why you need to get more sleep.
1. Sleep Can improve concentration and
productivity
Good
sleep can maximize problem-solving skills and enhance memory. In contrast, poor
sleep has been shown to impair brain function and decision making skills.
Sleep
is important for various aspects of brain function. Cognition, concentration,
productivity, and performance are all negatively affected by sleep deprivation.
A
specific study on overworked physicians provides a good example. It found that
doctors with moderate, high, and very high sleep-related impairment were 54%,
96%, and 97% more likely to report clinically significant medical errors.
On
a similar note, getting enough sleep can improve academic performance in
children, adolescents, and young adults.
DAVIDO NET WORTH AS AT 2022 AND HIS BIOGRAPHY
Finally,
good sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance memory
performance in both children and adults.
2. Sleep Can maximize athletic performance
Getting
enough sleep has been shown to improve many aspects of athletic and physical
performance.
Sleep
has been shown to enhance athletic performance.
Numerous
studies have shown that adequate sleep can enhance fine motor skills, reaction
time, muscular power, muscular endurance, and problem-solving skills. What’s
more, lack of sleep may increase your risk of injury and lower your motivation
to exercise.
So,
getting enough sleep may be just the thing you need to take your performance to
the next level.
3. Poor sleep is linked to depression
Poor
sleeping patterns are strongly linked to depression, particularly for those
with a sleeping disorder.
Mental
health concerns, such as depression, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality
and sleeping disorders.
One
study in 2,672 participants found that those with anxiety and depression were
more likely to report poorer sleep scores than those without anxiety and
depression.
In
other studies, people with sleeping disorders like insomnia or obstructive
sleep apnea also report higher rates of depression than those without.
If
you have trouble with sleep and notice your mental health has worsened, it’s
important to speak with your healthcare professional.
4. Sleep Supports a healthy immune system
Getting
at least 7 hours of sleep can improve your immune function and help fight the
common cold. It may also improve COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, though more
research is needed.
Lack
of sleep has been shown to impair immune function.
In
one study, participants who slept fewer than 5 hours per night were 4.5 times
more likely to develop a cold compared than who slept more than 7 hours. Those
who slept 5–6 hours were 4.24 times more likely.
Some
data also suggests that proper sleep may improve your body’s antibody responses
to influenza vaccines..
Recently,
preliminary data shows that getting enough sleep before and after receiving a
COVID-19 vaccination may improve vaccine efficacy. Still, more research is
needed to better understand this possible connection.
5. Lack of sleep can be dangerous
Not
getting enough sleep can be dangerous for yourself and others.
When
we’re tired, our ability to focus on tasks, reflexes, and reaction times
decreases. In fact, being severely sleep-deprived is comparable to having
consumed excess alcohol.
Concerning
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 25
people have fallen asleep at the wheel while driving. Those who slept fewer
than 6 hours were most likely to fall asleep while driving.
One
2018 study found that people who slept 6, 5, 4, or fewer than 4 hours had a
risk of causing a car accident that was 1.3, 1.9, 2.9, and 15.1 times higher,
respectively. This study suggests that your risk of a car accident increases
significantly with each hour of lost sleep.
Further,
the CDC reports that staying awake for more than 18 hours is comparable to
having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. After 24 hours, this increases
to 1.00%, which is over the legal driving limit.
In
addition to increased risks associated with driving, lack of sleep may also
increase the risk of workplace injury and errors.
All
in all, getting proper sleep is important for everyone’s safety.
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