WHY WE SLEEP-The Benefits of Sleep
How many hours of sleep should I be getting?
For most adults 7 to 9 hours a night is required. Children and teens need more. Following are a few reasons why “quality and uninterrupted sleep” are so important.
- A person is four times more likely to suffer from reduced concentrations if they are not getting the recommended amount of sleep.
- Quality sleep will improve our “Immune Functions”. For example, those who sleep less than 7 to 8 hours a night are more likely to develop a cold than those who slept 8 or more hours.
A very high number of Americans suffer from issues related to inadequate sleep. Along with nutrition and exercise, quality of sleep is one of the three main factors related to our overall health.
Following is a brief summary of how “Poor Sleep” can affect our overall Health:
- Poor sleep is linked to higher weight gain: Getting quality sleep is crucial to maintaing and/or reducing calorie intake.
- Greater risk of heart disease and stroke: Numerous studies have found that those who don’t get enought quality sleep are a greater risk for heart disease and stroke.
- 90% of those who are suffering from depression complain about the quality of their sleep,.
- When a person averages less than 6 hours of sleep a night, they are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.