Does Sleep Really Help To Keep You Healthy?

Typically it is recommended that adults get at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night, those between the ages of 13-18 should be getting 8-10 hours, and those between the ages of 6-12 should be getting around 9-12 hours of sleep each night. 

Most experts agree that lack of sleep can lead to various health issues which includes not limited to the following:

Insulin helps to regulate glucose control, lack of sleep can reduce insulin production and maintaining a healthy balance between insulin and glucose is important to avoiding developing Type 2 Diabetes. Getting adequate sleep combined with proper nutrition and exercise can help to possibly slow the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. 

Lack of sleep causes havoc in the body, and this can increase the production of stress hormones which will prevent other hormones from functioning properly and hinders the body’s natural ability to rejuvenate its defenses against illness and invaders. Lack of sleep can also increase the levels of white blood cells which increases the levels of inflammation and has potential to slow recovery from illness, as well as hindering the removal of toxins from the brain which are produced during waking hours. 

Lack of sleep tends to increase the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body which are artery cloggers and prevent smooth blood flow that is important for cardiovascular health. Lack of sleep prevents blood pressure from decreasing while sleeping which causes extended periods of high blood pressure that can lead to hypertension and more serious cardiac issues. 

Some studies are now suggesting that children who do not get enough sleep have a higher incidence of developing Type 2 Diabetes, additionally lack of sleep contributes to behavioral issues as well as mental health problems. 

Getting enough sleep is important on many levels, when combined with regular physical activity and a balanced healthy diet these simple lifestyle choices can help us to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible mentally and physically.