The Importance of Sleep

Your sleep is so important to your health that there’s a whole field of medicine focused on it. But, the science behind how it works and why you need to sleep is complex. It’s like a partially assembled jigsaw puzzle – researchers know some of the pieces, but they still don’t fully understand the whole picture.

The reason we need so much sleep is that slumber is when the body and brain are at their most active in terms of restorative functions. During sleep, muscles repair themselves, the brain sweeps out waste and memories are formed. The immune system also prepares to fight germs and inflammation. All of this explains why people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to develop health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and depression.

In addition to all of this, getting a good night’s sleep is also key for your mental health and mood. Research has shown that sleeping poorly can worsen conditions like PTSD, anxiety and depression. It can also make psychiatric medications less effective. Sleep and mental health often work hand in hand, which is why steps to improve sleep should be part of a treatment plan for any condition that affects it.

During the day, your brain uses electrical signaling to communicate and control all the processes that keep you alive. During sleep, these signals slow down and fall into different patterns, from rapid alpha waves as you start to doze off to slower theta waves during deepest slumber. Each cycle of sleep consists of several phases that take roughly 90 minutes to two hours to complete, and each one is crucial for your physical and emotional health.

When you’re feeling stressed, your body may release “stress hormones,” which can cause difficulty sleeping. When you’re well rested, however, your body can more easily cope with stress, which helps improve sleep quality.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, it’s important to talk to a doctor. They can help identify potential issues, such as insomnia or other underlying mental health disorders, and provide you with the right treatment.

The importance of sleep is widely recognized, and the American Heart Association included it in their Life’s Essential 8 list for cardiovascular health alongside physical activity, diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking status and alcohol consumption. But, too many of us still don’t get enough slumber. In fact, sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on all the things we want to achieve in life. This is why it’s so important to prioritize sleep and incorporate it into your daily routine. Here are some tips to get started: