If you, like many folks, are trying to find ways to support your health, understanding the importance of getting restorative sleep is essential.
What you might not realize is that getting better sleep at night could be just as, if not more important for your health than a new diet or exercise routine. It’s not only great for your physical health but your mental health as well. Study after study on sleep science shows getting quality sleep can do wonders for your overall health and wellbeing.
If you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep at night, talk to your doctor right away. Your poor sleep habits may be having an effect on your overall health.
Let’s take a look at a few possible reasons why.
Getting A Good Night’s Sleep: How Might Sleep Affect Your Health?
If you find it hard to get to sleep or stay asleep (or you can’t sleep without pills), you might miss out on incredible health benefits. Sleep might have an effect on the following health factors:
Mood
If you haven’t slept well in a while, there’s a good chance you’ve been cranky. One study showed that poor sleep can lead to a low mood and feelings of having “a bad day”.
Researchers studied more than 900 women to look at the effects of poor sleep on women’s health. They found a lack of quality sleep had more of an effect on mood than tight work schedules or financial issues.1
Alertness
There is a link between being sleep deprived and being a dangerous driver. It’s estimated drowsiness leads to about 100,000 vehicular accidents a year, leading to 1,500 deaths.2
Skin
One study shows people who get good, regular sleep have more resilient skin than those who do not. This means their skin bounces back after exposure to ultraviolet light. They also have fewer signs of aging than those who sleep poorly on a regular basis.3
Headaches
If you don’t get enough sleep, according to research, you might be at a higher risk of suffering migraine headaches.4
Heart Health
One study found those who sleep five hours or less have a nearly 50 percent higher risk for heart trouble.5
Human Growth Hormone Production
People produce more human growth hormone (HGH) while they’re in a deeper sleep. If you have a disruption in your sleep, that can interfere with the ability of HGH to get into the bloodstream.6
Weight
There are indications that good sleep habits and exercise could help support a healthy weight. This, of course, can promote better overall health. According to several studies, people who sleep less than they should are at a higher risk for obesity.7
Sleep is also essential for building muscle. While you sleep, the body gets a chance to heal the day’s damage to your tissues and cells.8 If you don’t sleep enough, that can result in atrophy of your muscles.9
Whether you sleep in the fetal position, on your back, or on your side… getting good sleep can go a long way toward keeping you physically healthy.
Poor Sleep Habits Or Other Sleep Issues? Know When To See Your Doctor
If you’re not getting enough sleep or have feelings of constant tiredness, it’s important to see your doctor. It could be due to a medical problem or your body might not be producing enough of a hormone known as melatonin, which you need in order to sleep soundly.
There might also be an issue with your circadian rhythm, the internal body clock that tells you when it’s time to go to bed.
Your doctor will be able to determine the cause behind your poor sleep and address it appropriately. Whatever the cause, it’s important to seek medical attention, especially if it is interfering with your quality of life. You sooner you do so, the sooner you can get back to feeling fully energized and ready to take on the day.
Learn More:
Aging Hack: Can Lifting Weights Help You To Live Longer?
How To Reduce Stress Naturally: Can You Manage Stress In Natural Ways?
7 Remarkable Benefits of Drinking Hot Water
Sources
1 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9dcf/d877e39b7b2f0e56bd468030081ca0a435e3.pdf
2 http://www.stritch.luc.edu/depts/injprev/transprt/tran1-02.htm
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25266053
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23808359
5 https://www.nap.edu/read/11617/chapter/5#62
6 https://www.sleephelp.org/hgh-and-sleep/
7 https://www.nap.edu/read/11617/chapter/5#60
8 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929498/
9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21550729