The Importance of Sleep

While many people may be quick to dismiss sleep as “down time” or just a necessary “break,” the fact is that sleep is critical for your health and well-being. As you slumber, your muscles repair themselves, your brain sweeps out waste and your body releases hormones that play a role in everything from hunger to stress. Studies show that people who don’t get enough sleep have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and depression. Sleep also plays a critical role in memory consolidation and immune function, and is linked to how quickly you recover from illness.

The complex physiology of sleep is still being unraveled, but scientists have discovered that it affects almost all parts of the body and the mind. Getting adequate rest has been shown to improve performance, learning and problem-solving. It also boosts the ability to cope with stress and to maintain a healthy weight. Sleep is even important for your mental health, influencing your mood and the processing of emotional information.

As you go through the sleep cycle, your brain begins to organize and convert the information you’ve learned into long-term memories. That’s why people who don’t get enough sleep may have trouble remembering things they learn during the day and often find themselves feeling irritable and moody after a poor night’s sleep.

During sleep, the brain releases a chemical called BDNF, which helps to preserve and build new neurons (cells that help you think and learn) in the brain. The chemical is also responsible for the formation of new memories, and it has been found to be much higher in people who get a good night’s sleep.

In addition, sleeping helps clear the brain of toxins and protein debris that can accumulate during waking hours and lead to inflammation and cell death. Researchers have found that the drainage system for this waste works twice as fast during sleep, and that a lack of sleep may contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists believe that humans evolved to live in a 24-hour day-night cycle, and that the body’s natural circadian rhythms work alongside the drive to sleep to ensure that you can meet both your energy needs and your need for rest. This cycle is influenced by the sun setting and rising each day, along with your biological clock, which is activated when you’re at rest. Certain health conditions and medications can alter your sleep-wake cycle, leading to insomnia or other sleep disorders. These include: