Why getting enough sleep is important for us

Agood night’s sleep is greatly important for the health of kids and adults alike. It is just as important as eating right and exercising too. Experts have said that kids should get at least 10 hours of sleep and adults should get at least eight. But now, this is hardly the case for most of us seeing that we sleep late and wake up early. Not getting enough sleep has its side effects which are:

Less sleep increases weigth/obesity: Not getting enough sleep can lead to weight gain and surprisingly enough, it is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity. The effect of sleep on weight gain is influenced by a number of factors such as hormones.

It improves concentration and productivity: Sleep influences various aspects of brain functions such as cognition, productivity and performance. Everyone notices how miserable and disorientated one can be when they are sleep deprived both at work and at school. Getting a good night’s sleep on the other hand enhances memory performance and problem solving skills.

It improves your immune system functions: Have you noticed how whenever you fall sick, the thing you need the most is rest and sleep? This is because our immune systems are more prone to attack when we are tired and sleep deprived. People who sleep for less than 7 hours at night are more likely to develop a sickness like a cold or flu.

It reduces your risks of getting mental health issues: Mental health issues such as depression are strongly linked to poor sleep. People that complain of insomnia also report higher rates of insomnia than others.