Why is sleep important?

Why is sleep so important to our health? Sleep and the dreams it gives us function to organize our memories. It also can help recover lost memories. There have been many studies that have shown that after studying, when you “sleep on it” or get a good night’s sleep it reinforces what you studied.

Sleep actually acts as a mood enhancer and helps to improve our social behavior. I don’t know about you, but when I don’t get enough sleep I get grumpy. Tired people are often cranky and easily frustrated. If you don’t think sleep helps, just check out a toddler that hasn’t had enough sleep. Although it’s common for everyone not to sleep well every once in a while, insomnia that lasts more than a few days can really affect us negatively.

So what is insomnia? Insomnia has been defined as “sleep problems characterized by difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night, or waking up earlier than desired.” Insomnia can result in getting up in the morning in a haze and experiencing ongoing drowsiness as the day progresses. An easy way to look at insomnia is simply the inability to get enough high-quality sleep.

Our sleep acts as a nightly tune up for our brains. Studies have shown that Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep affects our mood during the day. When we sleep the parts of the brain that control emotions, decision-making, and social interactions slow down dramatically. This allows our brains to recover from the previous day’s activities and improve our performance when we are awake.

Have you ever tried to really concentrate when you’re tired? I find that I can’t concentrate suitably when I haven’t slept well. Scientists have suggested that our brains, or more specifically our brain’s neurons, repair themselves during sleep. Sleep deprived neurons get sluggish and don’t fire properly. When this happens your nervous system doesn’t work as it should and your concentration is affected. You’ve probably experienced this on a long drive or when trying to study late at night.

When I wasn’t sleeping well I found that my allergies actually worsened. Studies have also shown that without enough sleep your immune system is weakened. This results in your body becoming more susceptible to infections and disease.

Although my health wasn’t permanently affected, long term insomnia can lead to an increased risk of disorders such as major depression, anxiety disorder, and even drug and alcohol abuse. Additionally some studies have shown that the lack of sleep can cause a person to develop problems with their weight. Other studies have shown that the lack of sleep can even lead to a premature death.

When I wasn’t sleeping well I experienced difficulty going to sleep as well as having a hard time staying asleep. I found that the lack of sleep made me think fuzzy. I also had a hard time remembering things. It affected my ability to get my work done. You might experience these types of symptoms too.

So to sum it up, the lack of sleep can trigger problems at home, work or school. It can slow down your reaction time which can results in accidents in your automobile, home, and workplace. If you’re experiencing problems with your sleep I have a FREE e-Course which can help but whatever you decide to do, do it quickly. Insomnia is no fun, I know.