| Other than feeling more alert and rested in the | | | | other illnesses. Sleep helps to keep the chemicals |
| morning, it seems that many of us don't | | | | in our brain balanced and allows our mind to |
| understand the benefits of sleep. If we did we | | | | process out stressful or painful things from our |
| might not be so quick to short ourselves hours of | | | | day. We miss out on these sleep health benefits |
| rest by working late, staying up watching TV or | | | | when we don't get our rest. |
| doing a host of things that we think are more | | | | It is hard to recoup lost rest and get back the |
| important than sleep. Well, here's why sleep may | | | | benefits of sleep. If we miss a couple hours a |
| be a good idea after all. | | | | night during the work week we can't necessarily |
| Sleep health benefits extend beyond just feeling | | | | just sleep longer on Saturday and expect that |
| better in the morning. Sleep not only recharges | | | | we've balanced out our lack of rest from the |
| our energy levels but actually recharges the | | | | week. Most likely you will need a little extra sleep |
| body's systems. For example, rest recharges our | | | | for a few nights in a row for your body to feel |
| immune system and helps it to function at its | | | | back on track. |
| best. A lack of sleep can actually hinder our | | | | Sleep consists of distinct stages with each stage |
| immune system and make us more susceptible to | | | | providing the body with different functions and |
| disease and illness. | | | | benefits. It works best when we consistently |
| When we sleep another of the benefits of sleep | | | | sleep the number of hours our body needs |
| is that our body goes into repair mode. It focuses | | | | (typically 7 - 8 for an adult, longer for teens and |
| on repairing and building bone, muscle and other | | | | children). This allows the body and mind to go |
| tissue as needed by our body. The body is set up | | | | through all the stages properly several times. If |
| to go into a sort of maintenance mode while we | | | | we short ourselves we don't get the full number |
| sleep that allows it to concentrate on fixing things. | | | | of cycles and therefore throw of the body. We |
| Not that our body doesn't do some repair while | | | | end up missing the benefits of sleep and have to |
| we're awake, but sleep allows it to concentrate | | | | play catch up eventually or pay the price with |
| without dividing energy between repair and all the | | | | illness, lack of performance, etc. Lack of sleep |
| tasks we perform when we're awake. | | | | costs America alone billions of dollars in lost |
| Mental well being is also one of the sleep health | | | | productivity, health care and accident related |
| benefits we get from rest. Getting proper, regular | | | | costs....about as much as stroke or depression. |
| sleep helps the mind to unwind, regroup and cope | | | | The problem is bigger than many of us realize. |
| with stress and other issues. When we don't get | | | | Perhaps after reading this you will reconsider |
| our rest both body and mind are less able to | | | | shaving off an hour here or there. The cost is |
| cope with and adjust to stressors. We are also | | | | probably not worth it. |
| more prone to developing depression, anxiety and | | | | |