Why Is Sleep Important?

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. The way you feel while you are awake depends in part on what happens while you are sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health.

Sleep also affects different parts of your immune system, which become more active at different times of day. For example, when you sleep, a particular type of immune cell works harder. That is why people who do not sleep enough may be more likely to get colds and other infections.

The way your body handles fat varies according to various circadian clocks, including those in the liver, fat, and muscle. For example, the circadian clocks make sure that your liver is prepared to help digest fats at appropriate times. Your body may handle fat differently if you eat at unusual times.

Studies have shown that not getting enough quality sleep can lead to:

1. Higher levels of the hormones that control hunger inside your body
2. Decreased ability to respond to insulin
3. Increased consumption of food, especially fatty, sweet, and salty foods
4. Decreased physical activity
5. Metabolic Syndrome.

Sleep helps with learning and the formation of long-term memories. Not getting enough sleep or enough high-quality sleep can lead to problems focusing on tasks and thinking clearly.

Tips for Better sleep

Some habits that can improve your sleep health:

1. Be consistent. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, including on the weekends
2. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature
3. Remove electronic devices, such as TVs, computers, and smart phones, from the bedroom
4. Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime
5. Get some exercise. Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep more easily at night.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important#:~:text=During%20sleep%2C%20your%20body%20is,long%2Dterm)%20health%20problems.

This statement has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration