When you live a busy
life, sleep is normally your last priority. While not getting enough sleep can
cause you to be in a bad mood the next day, interestingly enough, sleep is
actually one of the most important aspects of your health. A lack of sleep can
cause you to experience many other health problems. Your body is in need of
sleep to recoup after a long day. Keep reading to learn about the importance of
sleep and restoration.
A Sharp Mind
While you are sleeping,
your brain's neurons spend the time reorganizing. Your brain's glympahtic
system, your wate cleaning system, removes the toxic byproducts that build up
in your brain throughout the day. Sleep also helps with memory function by
converting short term memories into long term memories. Sleep also assists in
improving your learning abilities, problem solving skills, focus, and
concentration.
Immune Function
A lack of sleep can
cause your immune response to lower, making you more susceptible to germs and
illnesses. While you are asleep, your body creates proteins called cytokines
that fight against infection and inflammation. Your body also makes antibodies
and immune cells to prevent sickness.
A Healthy Heart
Your blood pressure
lowers while you are sleeping to give your heart and blood vessels a chance to
rest. The less sleep you get, the less time for your circulatory system to have
a break. If you have high blood pressure, it is even more important that you
get a good night's rest to let your heart have a bit of a break.
Better Blood Sugar
When you are in a deep
sleep cycle, the amount of glucose in your blood lowers. If you do not get
enough sleep to reach that deep sleep cycle, your blood sugar does not get the
opportunity to lower. This makes it harder for your body to respond to your
cell's blood sugar needs.
Good Emotional
Well-being
Sleep is important for
your emotional health as well as your physical health. During sleep, the parts
of your brain that regulate your emotions increase in activity, including your
amygdala and hippocampus. If you are sleep deprived, your amygdala is more
likely to overreact in situations. If you have many disturbances in your sleep,
this can cause the onset and progression of mental health issues such as
depression.
If you are not getting
good quality sleep at night, you should talk to your doctor to see how they can
help. Once the underlying causes of your struggle sleeping are identified, they
can assist you in improving your sleep quality.
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