While a good night’s sleep makes you feel more energetic and alert, there are also some major health benefits associated with getting some shut-eye! Most adults need at least 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night! Teens and younger children require even more sleep than that for a healthy lifestyle. While this amount of sleep can sometimes be difficult to achieve with raising children, busy work schedules and other factors of daily life, it is incredibly important for your health! Here are the top 4 things you should know about the health benefits of sleep:
1. Sleep May Help You Lose Weight
You may be surprised to know that you can actually lose weight by getting a good night of sleep! This is because your metabolism functions better with a sufficient amount of rest each night. When you suffer from a lack of sleep, it disrupts the hormones ghrelin and leptin. These hormones help regulate your appetite. Studies have shown that individuals who sleep less than 7 hours per night are more likely to be overweight or obese. If you want to maintain or lose weight, you should ensure that you can get an adequate amount of sleep on a regular basis!
2. Sleep Reduces Stress
When your body doesn’t get enough sleep, it goes into a state of stress that can lead to the production of stress hormones. These hormones can make it even more difficult for you to fall asleep, so is important to learn some relaxation techniques that can help you get to sleep faster. Many people like to practice meditation and yoga to relieve their stress before bedtime, while others find it helpful to write their thoughts right before bed so they don’t stay up dwelling on them.
3. Sleep Keeps Your Heart Healthy
Another one of the major health benefits of sleep is that it helps to keep your heart healthy! Heart attacks and strokes are more common during the early morning hours. This may be related to the way that sleep interacts with the blood vessels. Researchers have found that a lack of sleep can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart diseases and stroke. Keep your heart healthier by aiming for between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.
4. Sleep Helps Repair Your Body
While sleep is a time to relax, it is also a time when your body is busy working on repairing damages caused by stress, ultraviolet rays and other exposures. When you are sleeping, your cells create more protein molecules that form the building blocks for cells that repair the damage. Collagen production also occurs during sleep, which directly affects your skin. If you are not getting enough sleep, you may notice an increase in fine lines and wrinkles.
Now that you are familiar with the health benefits of sleep, learn more about how Mac’s Pharmacy can help you enjoy a healthy lifestyle. We are dedicated to maintaining and improving your health, so we would be happy to assist you with all of your pharmaceutical needs!
