Getting a good night's sleep is incredibly important to your health. In fact, it is just as important as eating healthy and exercising. Unfortunately, there are many things that can interfere with natural sleep patterns. People now sleep less than before and the quality of sleep has also decreased.


1. Lack of sleep is associated with body weight

  •  Poor sleep related to weight gain .
  •  People with short sleep periods tend to be significantly more overweight than those who get enough sleep (1 trusted source, 2 trusted sources).

  •  In fact, short periods of sleep are one of the most important risk factors for obesity.

  •  The effect of sleep on weight gain is believed to be mediated by many factors, including hormones and motivation for exercise 4 (many reliable sources).

  •   If you are trying to lose weight, it is very important that you get a good night's sleep.


SUMMARY
Short periods of sleep are associated with weight gain and the risk of obesity in both children and adults.

 

2. Good sneakers tend to consume fewer calories.

  •   Studies show that sleep-deprived people have a greater appetite and tend to eat more calories.
  •   Lack of sleep disrupts daily fluctuations in appetite hormones and is believed to be the cause of appetite control (2 Trusted Sources, 5 Trusted Sources).
  •   These include high levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates the appetite, and leptin, a hormone that reduces appetite (6 reliable sources).

SUMMARY 

Bad sleep affects the hormones that control appetite.


3. Better sleep can improve concentration and productivity

  • Sleep is important for different aspects of brain activity.
  • These include perception, concentration, productivity, and performance (7 trusted sources).
  • A study on internal physicians sets a good example.
  • Interns on a traditional theatrical schedule, with extended work hours of more than 24 hours, have treatment errors more than 3% more severe than interns on a schedule that allows more sleep (8 reliable sources).
  •   Another study found that short sleep can have the same negative effects on certain aspects of brain activity as small amounts of alcohol intoxication (9 reliable sources).
  • On the other hand, good sleep has been shown to increase memory performance in both children and adults to improve problem-solving skills (10 trusted sources, 11 trusted sources, 12 trusted sources).

SUMMARY
 Good sleep improves problem solving skills and improves memory.  Poor sleep has been shown to reduce brain function.


4. Good sleep can maximize athletic performance

Sleep has been shown to improve athletic performance.  A study of basketball players showed significant improvements in longer sleep speeds, accuracy, reaction time, and mental well-being (13 credible sources). Short periods of sleep are also associated with poor exercise performance and functional limitations in older women. A study of more than 2,600 women found that lack of sleep was associated with slower walking, lower grip strength, and greater difficulty performing independent activities (14 reliable sources).


SUMMARY
 Prolonged sleep has been shown to improve many aspects of physical and athletic performance.

 5. Poor sleepers are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke.

 The quality and duration of sleep can have a major impact on many health risk factors. These are believed to be driven by chronic diseases, including heart disease. A review of 15 studies found that people who did not get enough sleep had a much higher risk of heart disease or stroke than those who slept 7 to 8 hours a night (15 reliable sources).


 SUMMARY

Sleeping less every 7-8 hours at night is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.


6. Sleep affects glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes risk

 Experimental sleep restriction affects blood sugar and lowers insulin sensitivity (16 Trusted Sources, 17 Trusted Sources). A study of healthy young men found that they had predisposing symptoms due to limitations at 4 hours per night for 6 consecutive nights (16 credible sources). These symptoms resolve after a week of sleep. why is sleep so important at night. Poor sleep habits are also strongly associated with adverse effects on blood sugar in the general population. People who sleep less than 6 hours a night have been repeatedly shown to be at risk for type 2 diabetes (19 trusted sources, 20 trusted sources).

SUMMARY
Lack of sleep can predispose healthy adults in less than 6 days.  Many studies show a strong link between short sleep duration and type 2 diabetes.