The Sunday News
IF you’re getting less than the recommended seven or eight hours of sleep a night, here are nine reasons that you should shut down your computer, turn off the lights, and go to bed an hour early tonight.
Better health. Getting a good night’s sleep won’t grant you immunity from disease. But study after study has found a link between insufficient sleep and some serious health problems, such as heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity.
In most cases, the health risks from sleep loss only become serious after years. That might not always be true, however. One study simulated the effects of the disturbed sleep patterns of shift workers on 10 young healthy adults. After a mere four days, three of them had blood glucose levels that qualified as pre-diabetic.
Better sex life.
According to a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, up to 26 percent of people say that their sex lives tend to suffer because they’re just too tired. There’s evidence that in men, impaired sleep can be associated with lower testosterone levels — although the exact nature of the link isn’t clear.
Less pain.
If you have chronic pain or acute pain from a recent injury — getting enough sleep may actually make you hurt less. Many studies have shown a link between sleep loss and lower pain threshold. Unfortunately, being in pain can make it hard to sleep.
Researchers have found that getting good sleep can supplement medication for pain. If pain is keeping you up at night, there are also medications available that combine a pain reliever with a sleep aid.
Better mood.
Getting enough sleep won’t guarantee a sunny disposition. But you have probably noticed that when you’re exhausted, you’re more likely to be cranky. That’s not all. “Not getting enough sleep affects your emotional regulation,” says Mendel. “When you’re overtired, you’re more likely to snap at your boss, or burst into tears, or start laughing uncontrollably.”
Better weight control.
Getting enough sleep could help you maintain your weight — and conversely, sleep loss goes along with an increased risk of weight gain. Why? Part of the problem is behavioural. If you’re overtired, you might be less likely to have the energy to go for that jog or cook a healthy dinner.
The other part is physiological. The hormone lepton plays a key role in making you feel full. When you don’t get enough sleep, lepton levels drop. Result: people who are tired are just plain hungrier — and they seem to crave high-fat and high-calorie foods.
Better memory.
Feeling forgetful? Sleep loss could be to blame. Studies have shown that while we sleep, our brains process and consolidate our memories from the day. If you don’t get enough sleep, it seems like those memories might not get stored correctly — and can be lost. — www.care2.com
