10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep

10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep

A lot of people do not get much sleep as they should. However, sleep is essential for our overall health, just like exercising and eating nutritious food. Good sleep comes with a range of health and wellness benefits. For instance, it relaxes your brain enabling you to think smarter when you wake up. As a result, you become more creative and can achieve more. Studies also confirm that adequate sleep keeps your skin healthy. 


So, if it’s challenging for you to keep a healthy sleeping routine, this guide should serve as a wake-up call. However, this doesn’t mean that you oversleep. Find out a suitable sleep routine by seeking advice from an expert. 


Here are some of the health benefits that you can enjoy with good sleep:


  • Good for Your Heart


Heart conditions can emerge when one has sleep issues. When you sleep, the work of your heart decreases. Consequently, the heart rate and blood pressure go down. By regulating your heart rate and blood pressure, a good night’s sleep enables your heart to stay healthy. A study shows that poor sleep quality can expose you to high blood pressure, which causes heart diseases. 



  • Reduces Stress


When you have stress, sleeping can be challenging. Extreme stress levels can even trigger sleep disorders. But here is something interesting, sleep and stress have a two-way relationship. While high-stress levels can make you sleepless, proper sleep helps in reducing the effects of stress. 



  • Reinforces The Immune System


Sleep plays a crucial role in the immune system that consists of cells called ‘T cells.’ These immune cells fight pathogens such as virus-infected cells like cancer cells, herpes, HIV, flu, and more. Having a good sleep improves the functioning of these cells boosting protection in your body. 



  • Helps in Managing Cancer


According to a study on the relation between sleep and cancer, findings show that a good night’s sleep can help people with cancer. Sleep disorders cause an imbalance of the hormones which influence cancer cells. One of the hormones, cortisol, plays a crucial role in regulating your body’s defense system. It controls how your body releases a cell that helps in fighting cancer. Cortisol levels are high when you wake up after a good sleep and declines as the day goes by. 



  • Improves Productivity


If you want to improve your memory and problem-solving skills, then having a good sleep is crucial. It is because sleep helps you to boost performance, cognition, concentration, and productivity. Contrary, sleep deprivation is harmful to your health. It makes you more prone to making errors and slows your thinking speed.


  • Enhances Athletic and Physical Performance



People who engage in vigorous physical exercise such as athletes need more calories due to high energy requirements by their body to perform those activities. They also need a quick recovery time when they have injuries. Research shows that good sleep reduces illness and injuries in athletes. Furthermore, improved sleep quality doesn’t just enhance the well being, it improves their performance by enhancing their participation in training.



  • Mood boost



When you are sleeping, the brain processes your emotions. For the brain to recognize and react the right way, your mind needs a good rest. Inadequate sleep tends to attract negative emotional reactions. Good sleep is refreshing and a boost to alleviate your mood. 



  • Prevents Depression


Depression is among the mental health disorders that affect many people. One of the major causes of this condition is the lack of enough sleep. Most people suffering from depression usually have poor sleeping patterns. Developing and following a good sleep program of at least 7 hrs per day will help to solve this problem. 


  • Reduces Inflammation


Sleep affects how your body responds to inflammation. While getting enough sleep lowers inflammation, lack of sleep can lead to disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. This is a disease of the digestive tract. Inflammation interferes with how the brain relays messages to other parts of the body, including how the brain controls sleep.



  • Weight Control


People who sleep for a short duration are likely to gain more weight, unlike those with a good sleep routine. So, lack of enough sleep means that you have higher chances of becoming obese. It affects hormones that control appetite and hunger. Sleep deprivation creates a craving for junk foods and fats leading to weight gain. 



Although most people overlook sleep disorders, they can cause detrimental effects on your health. If you have sleeping problems then you should consider seeking medications. Sleep enhancers such as Zopiclone can help you sleep better and enjoy the above benefits. 

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Emma Willson