Getting a good night's sleep is incredibly important for your health. In fact, it's just as important as eating a balanced, nutritious diet and exercising.
Though sleep needs vary from person to person, most adults require between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Sleep deprivation can put your health and safety at risk, which is why it's essential that you prioritize and protect your sleep on a daily basis.
"Numerous studies have associated short sleep (defined as sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night) with a greater risk of weight gain and a higher body mass index (BMI). Sleep is important for various aspects of brain function too. Cognition, concentration, productivity and performance are all negatively affected by sleep deprivation," says Dr Khound, a doctor of medicine who practices in a leading private hospital of Guwahati.
Sports coaches believe that sleep enhances athletic performance. "Numerous studies have shown that adequate sleep can enhance fine motor skills, reaction time, muscular power, muscular endurance and problem-solving skills," says Nayan Deka who runs a cricket coaching centre. "What's more, lack of sleep may increase your risk of injury and lower your motivation for exercise," he adds. So, getting enough sleep may be just the thing you need to take your performance to the next level.
Low sleep quality and duration may increase your risk of developing heart disease. "Short sleep appears to increase the risk of high blood pressure, especially in those with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep," says Dr Khound.
Some doctors feel that sleep deprivation can cause physiological changes like decreased insulin sensitivity, increased inflammation and hunger hormone changes as well as behavioral changes like poor decision making and greater food intake — all of which eventually increase the risk for diabetes.
Moreover, mental health concerns, such as depression, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders. Lack of sleep has been shown to impair immune function. "Sleep plays a key role in the regulation of our central nervous system. In particular, it's involved in the stress-response systems known as the sympathetic nervous system," concludes Dr Khound.
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