Adults who sleep 7-8 hours a day help balance hormones, keep their heart healthy, reduce stress, and stabilize blood sugar.
There is substantial scientific evidence about the importance of getting enough sleep. A good night’s sleep brings 10 benefits such as reducing inflammation, increasing concentration, and stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Keeps the Heart Healthy
When you sleep, your body releases hormones that help maintain the function of your heart and blood vessels, ensuring blood circulation throughout the body. Therefore, lack of sleep leads to a decrease in these hormones, causing high blood pressure, reduced heart function, and eventually, cardiovascular diseases.
Stabilizes Blood Sugar Levels
According to the American Sleep Association, lack of sleep affects the body’s metabolism, causing blood sugar levels to become unstable, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Mood can also be affected by unstable blood sugar levels (leading to irritability and anger), impacting energy levels and nervous system functions.
Reduces Inflammation
The immune system works more effectively when you get enough sleep. The body can combat inflammation caused by various conditions (muscle inflammation, gastritis…). Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to increased chronic inflammation, damaging internal organs, and increasing the risk of various diseases (such as ulcers, dementia, and cardiovascular diseases).
Helps Achieve Weight Loss Goals
Research by the Sleep Foundation shows that people who sleep less are more prone to obesity due to an imbalance in the hormones ghrelin and leptin. This leads to uncontrolled appetite, making it harder to maintain weight and lose weight. Therefore, enough sleep contributes to the production of beneficial hormones, helping you control your eating habits more effectively.
Enhances Athletic Performance
Adequate sleep helps you perform better in sports and avoid unwanted injuries caused by imbalance. Sleep studies have shown that sleep deprivation is related to short-term body imbalance (also known as unstable posture). This condition can lead to injuries and falls during sports or exercise.
Increases Concentration
A good night’s sleep brings alertness and high concentration, allowing you to handle daily activities efficiently. When a busy day ends, the body is well-rested, preparing for a new day full of energy.
Strengthens Memory
Sleep plays an important role in maintaining clarity and enhancing memory. During sleep, the brain links events, emotions, and sensations to form memories. Thus, quality sleep helps improve memory.
Reduces Stress
When nerves are stressed due to lack of sleep, you can become irritable, anxious, and prone to making hasty decisions, leading to less effective daily activities and reduced productivity. A good night’s sleep helps the body recover, restoring balance and relaxing the nerves.
Enhances Brain Executive Function
Getting enough sleep protects the brain’s executive functions. This involves forming complex thoughts like problem-solving, planning, and decision-making in work, study, and social activities.
Repairs Body Damage
While you sleep, your body works to repair damages such as UV exposure during the day and daily stress. Cells produce certain proteins while you sleep, allowing them to repair damage from the day and keep the body healthy.
Sleep is also an opportunity for the body to restore hormonal balance, self-repair, and keep the circulatory and immune systems functioning normally. Your brain forms and stores memories. Quality sleep reduces stress and sets the stage for you to achieve your daily goals effectively.