Effect of a Good Sleep on Overall Health
Sleep is a pillar of good health, along with a nutritious diet and regular
activity, sleep allows both the body and brain to recover during the night. A
good and appropriate sleep ensures we’ll feel refreshed and alert when you wake
up in the morning. Sleep is not just idle time. Many important body processes
are happening while we sleep, sleep plays a vital role in our mental and
physical wellbeing. Different processes that occur during sleep help to promote
healthy brain activity and maintain good overall health. For children and
teenagers, sleep is also key for proper growth and development. We also know
that sleep is necessary to:
• Maintain critical body functions
• Restore energy
• Repair muscle tissue
• Allow the brain to process new information
On the other hand, sleeping not enough can cause a range of mental and physical
problems, including impairing your ability to:
• Think clearly
• Focus
• React
• Control emotions
Now, let’s discuss below in detail very important health benefits of good sleep:
1. Brain Processing: Sleeping helps to lock memories into our brain. With
deprived sleep we would be less able to remember things we learned while we were
awake. A good night’s sleep can improve our ability to concentrate, be creative,
and learn new skills. Sleep also helps brain regulate emotions. That’s the
reason to feel irritable and moody after a poor night’s rest.
2. Immune System: Sleep helps boost our immune system. During slumber, the body
produces cytokines (proteins that direct immune cells to fight inflammation
throughout the body). That’s why sleep is so important when we are sick or
stressed. During these times, the body needs even more immune cells and
proteins. On the other hand, sleep deprivation increases body’s production of
white blood cells, the same response the body shows when exposed to significant
stress. That imbalance in immune system is associated with illnesses such as
heart disease. While we sleep, our body is hard at work repairing itself by
releasing proteins and hormones that help restore damaged tissues, including
muscles. If sleep is deprived, our body heals more slowly. This tissue repair
process is also important for helping athletes build muscle and recover from a
workout.
3. Insulin Management: Good sleep helps us for good insulin management as we
know insulin is a natural bodily hormone that regulates our glucose (or blood
sugar) level. Sleep deprivation can affect how our body reacts to insulin and
cause our glucose level to rise, which in turn puts you at higher risk for
developing Type 2 diabetes. Similarly, reduced sleep or poor sleep quality may
adversely affect glucose control in known diabetics.
4. Tissue Repair: While we sleep, our body is hard at work repairing itself by
releasing proteins and hormones that help restore damaged tissues, including
muscles. If sleep is deprived, our body heals more slowly. This tissue repair
process is also important for helping athletes build muscle and recover from a
workout.
5. Growth and Development:For children and adolescents, deep sleep triggers the
release of hormones that promote healthy growth, increase muscle mass, regulate
puberty and fertility, and repair cells and tissues. Children who don’t receive
enough sleep may feel angry or sad, struggle with school work, and have a hard
time engaging with their peers in positive ways.
6. Heart Health:Blood pressure is generally reduced during sleep. On the other
hand, decreased sleep can lead to a higher daily average blood pressure, which
in turn may increase risk of heart disease and stroke. Thus a good sleep has a
very positive effect on heart health.