Every New Year people make resolutions; often, these resolutions are ways they can improve themselves and their lives. One of the best ways a person can improve their health and quality of life is by making sleep a priority.
If you fail to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night, these are five reasons why you should make sleep a priority in 2018:
- Better-quality health. Getting the recommended amount of sleep won’t award you with complete immunity from diseases, but it won’t hurt. There have been many studies that prove that getting a sufficient amount of sleep each night helps you to avoid serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart attacks, heart disease, and obesity.
- Anti-aging. Not getting enough quality sleep can make you look older. It has been proven that insufficient sleep can result in premature aging of the skin. Meaning, people who consistently delay sleep will notice premature fine lines, uneven pigmentation and reduced skin elasticity. When you get the right amount of quality sleep each night, your body is able to properly complete its regular rejuvenation process.
- Healthier sex life. A poll completed by the National Sleep Foundation found that 26 percent of people’s sex lives are suffering because they are simply “too tired.” And, in men, it has been found that sleep deprivation is connected to lower testosterone levels.
- Weight control. Making sure you are getting the right amount of sleep nightly can help you conserve your weight and keep up with your weight loss goals. Equally, sleep deprivation increases your chance of weight gain. There are two big reasons for this. The first is behavioral. When you are sleep deprived, you likely won’t have the drive to exercise or prepare a healthy meal. The second is physiological. Your body produces a hormone called leptin, which plays an important part in making you feel full. When you do not get the proper amount of sleep, your leptin levels will drop. This results in you being hungrier throughout the day- and probably craving foods that are high-calorie and high-fat.
- Improved memory. If you find that you are often forgetful, sleep deprivation may be responsible. There have been studies that prove that when you sleep your brain goes through a process of organizing and storing your memories. When you don’t get the proper amount of sleep your memories may not be stored properly, or at all. Some studies have also determined that a lack of quality sleep may result in the development of artificial memories. In these studies, participants looked over a collection of words to memorize and were later tested on what they could remember. The participants who did not sleep were more likely to “recall” words that they did not see.
If you or a loved one are struggling to get a full night’s sleep, then you may benefit from a sleep consultation with one of the experts at Valley Sleep Center. Start your new year off right with better sleep! Call 480.830.3900 and schedule your appointment today.
