How Important Is Sleep To Your Overall Health?

Sleep is a part of everyone’s daily routine. Improving your sleep is not only beneficial for your energy levels, but it also provides benefits for your overall health. 

Some people might not recognize the extensive advantages of getting enough sleep. It can improve heart health and boost your immune system. 

If you are someone that often questions whether adequate sleep is really worth it, then discover more about its benefits to your overall health here. 

Is sleep really necessary?

Not only is sleep necessary, but our bodies need sleep. Sleep is required to help our bodies recharge, reset, and repair. It is quite extraordinary what our bodies do during our sleep.

Therefore, sleep truly is essential. Without it, our mental and physical health can be significantly impacted. 

Why is sleep important to overall health?

Sleep is important to our overall health as it benefits our minds and our bodies. Sleep isn’t just to help us recharge before we get up and go again. During our sleep, our bodies and brains fight disease and build immunity. This helps to fight off diseases and maintain good health. 

Enough sleep helps our minds and our bodies work correctly. Here is more on how sleep affects certain aspects of our bodies and life.

 

Sleep Effects on Mental Health

Enough sleep can have significant benefits for our mental health. Studies show that around 90% of adults and children that suffer with sleep issues also experience bouts of depression and anxiety. 

Around 33% of people worldwide suffer with insomnia, which is where a lack of sleep is inevitable. People that suffer from insomnia can experience more mental health issues than those who get enough sleep. This is due to a lack of sleep being stressful, and therefore, causing stress and depression.

Moreover, a lack of sleep can also:

• Affect our mood
• Hinder concentration
• Impact memory

Sleep Effects on Physical Health

A lack of sleep can evidently make us slump. It can demotivate us, which can lead to a lack of physical exercise. In time, a lack of exercise (and a lack of sleep in general) can lead to weight gain. 

Not getting enough sleep can also weaken our immune system, which makes our bodies more vulnerable to attaining diseases. 

People that lack enough sleep may also experience an increase in blood pressure. It may also make people more at risk of diabetes and heart disease. 

Sleep Effects on Financial Health

Sleep can help our brains work more efficiently. Without enough sleep, our cognitive abilities might be affected. Hence, our performance at work might be impacted. 

A reduced performance could result in issues at work or losing a job. Hence, a lack of sleep could significantly put our finances at risk.

Sleep Effects on Emotional Health

Lacking sleep can increase the risk of mental health problems and behavior disorders. It is known that not enough sleep can result in bipolar disorder or ADHD. 

With treatment, these issues can be improved or resolved. Or, sleep treatment may help to alleviate symptoms of poor mental health.

What are the benefits of getting a full night's sleep?

Getting a full night’s sleep can make us feel great. We can feel re-energized and recharged, which can help to improve our mood, focus, and memory. More so, you will likely notice positive changes to your body when you get enough sleep. You might feel motivated to exercise and treat your body better. 

Moreover, getting a full night’s sleep - every day or on a regular basis - can help to contribute to better heart health. Your blood pressure can stay at a healthy level with enough sleep, which can reduce the risk of poor heart function and disease. 

Sleep also helps to regulate our immune system, which can help to combat inflammatory diseases. Chronic inflammation can lead to ulcers, dementia, and heart disease. Therefore, plenty of sleep can help to make your body less vulnerable to these health conditions. 

How can sleep deprivation affect your health?

Sleep deprivation can impact both your mental and physical health. There are so many issues that arise with a continuous lack of sleep. If you get a bad night’s sleep once a month, you will know how low and fatigued it can make you feel. Dealing with poor sleep every night can cause mental health issues, from depression and anxiety to a low mood. In turn, these mental health issues can lead to poor physical health. A lack of energy can cause a person to avoid exercise. Hence, a person can be vulnerable to weight gain. 

In time, excessive weight gain can lead to heart conditions and/or diabetes. 

Every health issue can interlink if you suffer from a lack of sleep for an extended period of time. For example, a lack of sleep can cause a lack of energy. Then, a lack of energy can lead to a lack of exercise. This can lead to weight gain and thereafter, weight gain can lead to heart disease. 

Essentially, it is so important to get enough sleep and avoid sleep deprivation to avoid this multitude of health issues. 

In Summary

Overall, getting enough sleep is essential for your overall health. It will benefit both your mental and physical health by regulating the immune system, repairing the brain, and strengthening your overall ability to combat health issues. 

The amount of sleep that you need will depend on your personal health and wellbeing. It is advised to get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. To achieve this, it can help to implement to a bedtime routine into your lifestyle. This can help you relax and prepare your mind and body to sleep and wake up at certain times. 

When you are asleep, your body and mind work to repair the damage. Hence, getting more sleep gives your mind and body more time to repair and you will attain better overall health.