Posted on Wednesday, 7th October 2009 by Catherine

Sleep; something we often crave, never seem to get enough of and when we do get it, we want more of it.  So how important is shut eye?  Check out these interesting facts about sleep and what it does for you and your body.

• Adequate sleep is critical to proper brain function, no less so than air, water and food.

• Most adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.  When we don’t get enough we build up a “sleep debt” that is nearly impossible to “pay back” to your body.

• Sleep debt, if prolonged can be linked to obesity, high blood pressure, moodiness and depression.

• When you are tired you are more irritable have a shorter fuse and are compromising your quality of life.

• Your safety and the safety of those around you is in jeopardy when you do not get enough sleep.  It is estimated that over 100,000 automobile accidents each year are a result of drowsy drivers.

• Sleep deprived people are on average 30% less productive than their rested peers.  In this day and age you can’t afford to be less productive and hope to keep your job.

• Many studies show that sleep is important for cellular renewal, helping to replace muscle tissue, and dead cells throughout the body.

• Did you know that since the invention of the light bulb, people sleep about 500 hours per year less than they used to.  Between watching TV, being on the computer and disruptive sleep partners most adults are getting less sleep than they should.

• The immune system is thought to be maintained while asleep.  Often sleep deprived people get sicker more often and have extended recovery times.

As you can see sleep should be at the top of the priority list in life.  Often it is the first thing to be eliminated.  If you wonder why you have trouble coping with stress in life you should start by examining your sleep habits.  Do you get enough sleep?  You may think you do but does your body agree?

When you are well rested everything in life will be better.  Your mood, appetite, mental focus, and yes your ability to deal with stress and unexpected events.  The age-old saying “better sleep on it” really does help.

When you sleep, your body renews itself.  It regroups and heals.  Your mind is allowed to “turn off” for a bit (although it really doesn’t turn off anatomically).  When you wake up you often have a sense of focus, energy and a fresh perspective.

Over the next week try and evaluate your sleep needs and think about how you feel during the day.  I will be sharing with you a very basic idea about how to give your body the sleep it so desperately needs.  Until then get some zzzzz’s.

* Information gathered from National Sleep Foundation

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