Health & Medicine

5 Reasons Why Good Sleep is Important for Our Health

Ernest Hamilton
First Posted: Jan 11, 2021 11:03 AM EST
5 Reasons Why Good Sleep is Important for Our Health

Natural human circadian rhythm cycle plays a big role in maintaining our general physical health and well-being. Sleeping like a baby every night is beneficial for your body, brain functions and emotional state. Just as eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly can help the body realize its full potential, high-quality sleep is the fuel it needs to function properly throughout the day. If you acquired a habit of skimping on sleep, check out the article below and see why you should establish a sleep routine that can improve your overall health.

Athletic Performance

It's simple, more energy means more flexibility, greater achievements and better reaction times, so getting proper rest might have a positive effect on your performance in the gym. If you regularly visit the gym and don't get enough sleep, you might start noticing changes in your stamina and endurance. Speed, accuracy, reaction times depend on how well you rest your body.  Every sport requires energy, but make sure to give your muscles enough time to repair, otherwise you'll face a physical challenge you'll not be able to overcome.

Mental Health Issues

Apart from affecting your physical health, sleep deprivation can take a toll on your mental health, as well. Sleep deprivation is robbing you of physical energy, but also saps your motivation, makes you cranky and you might experience fluctuations in your mood. Sometimes it's perfectly normal to be under the influence of hormones, especially for women, but sometimes the cause for irrational behaviour is not sleeping well, tossing and turning throughout the night and tiring your body to the point where your mental health starts to suffer, too.

Immunity Booster

When you're sick and tired, most of the time you just want to sleep and take a rest. This means your body has reached its limit and cells need time to recover and restore their strength. In order to fight various diseases, the immune system has to work twice as much to stop them from attacking your body. Not getting high-quality rest means that the cells can't attack as quickly as usual which can lead to you getting sick more often.

Improves Concentration and Productivity

If your main goal is to be productive and efficient, then you'll need to start practicing better sleep hygiene. Sharper brain is directly related to the amount of sleep you get each night. How much you should sleep depends on your age, and it is not set in stone that every age group needs the same amount of sleep, which is in most cases, 8 hours. It's impossible not to lose focus when you're studying or working if you're low on sleep. Don't be surprised if you start forgetting details, having trouble memorizing information or mixing up situations, because brain fog can be a symptom of a sleep disorder.

Lowers the Risk Of Diseases

There is a direct link between heart disease, glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes. Poor sleep habits can negatively impact your glucose levels. They increase insulin resistance, which can consequently raise blood sugar levels. Low-quality sleep is associated with diabetes, a blood sugar disorder and you could expect to see an increase in cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone that is activated when your body is under a lot of stress due to the lack of sleep.

Natural sleep patterns shouldn't include more than 8 hours, because even 9 hours of sleep can do more harm than good for your body. Don't replace sleep with caffeine beverages or energy drinks, it can only make your immune system more prone to catching diseases if you don't base your meals on healthy foods and follow a healthy eating pattern. Do you have a regular sleep routine and how does sleep deprivation affect you? Leave a comment below and share your experience! 

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

More on SCIENCEwr