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The Benefits of Sleep - Live Longer, Healthier and Happier!

Updated: Apr 9, 2023




Introduction

Sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your body and mind. It's not just about getting enough rest; it's also about making sure that you're getting the right kind of sleep, and not just any old kind. Here are five reasons why you should prioritise your sleep today:



1. You need sleep.

In the words of Dr. Stephen N. Schoene, “Sleep is one of the most important processes in human life, and it’s essential for your brain to function properly.” It’s also a basic human need—one that we spend about a third of our lives sleeping! And not just any kind: We need deep, restorative REM (rapid eye movement) sleep; otherwise known as NREM sleep or non-rapid eye movement (NREM), which is characterised by slower breathing and heart rate while you dream and rest your muscles so they can repair themselves during this time period between wakefulness and REM cycles.



2. Sleeping enough will help you live longer, lose weight, and improve your memory.

Sleep is the time your body repairs itself. When you're sleeping, your brain can't do its normal work of remembering things and making new memories—it's as if you were on a break from school! This means that if you don't get enough sleep, you'll have problems with memory function and concentration.


Sleep deprivation can lead to obesity; it's also linked with diabetes, heart disease and stroke (even if it isn't directly causing these diseases). One study found that people who didn't get enough sleep had worse mental health than those who did get enough shuteye! But there are other ways in which lack of sleep affects our lives: studies have shown that people who don't get enough zzz's tend to have higher levels of depression or anxiety than people who do manage their nightly requirements well—and these conditions may cause even more serious problems down the road when they lead us into abusive relationships or make us prone to committing suicide after losing loved ones due their own poor choices during life’s most important moments."



3. Sleep can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Sleep deprivation has been shown to have negative effects on the brain and body, including depression, anxiety and chronic pain. In fact, studies show that people with insomnia have higher rates of heart disease than those who sleep soundly. Sleep deprivation also increases your risk for stroke by 23%.


Sleep is a critical process in keeping our bodies healthy — it helps regulate everything from hormone levels to immune function. Sleep loss can result in serious problems such as obesity (which is associated with diabetes) as well as cardiovascular disease like hypertension or stroke if left untreated over time.



4. One in three people suffer from some form of insomnia at some point in their life, and it can be caused by a variety of factors.

Sleep problems can be acute or chronic, short-term or long-term. They can be caused by medical conditions and medications, as well as other factors like stress and anxiety.


Sleep disorders are common among people who experience insomnia because they disrupt your normal sleep patterns. They may also make it harder for you to fall asleep (resetting) if you wake up during the night again after repeatedly going back to bed without waking up fully until morning light arrives.




5. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase your risk of early death.

In a recent study, researchers found that people who slept less than six hours per night were at an increased risk of early death. The risk was 50% higher for those who slept five to six hours and 40% higher for those who slept four to five hours. While the reason behind this association is still unknown, it’s important to note that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to many other health problems including:

  • Heart disease (40%)

  • Stroke (50%)

  • Diabetes (60%)

  • Obesity (60%)

  • Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders



There are several different types of sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders are a common problem that can affect the quality of your sleep and your overall health. There are several different types of sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome (RLS).


Insomnia is a condition in which you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night. You may wake up frequently during the night or wake up feeling tired during the day after only four hours' worth of sleep. It's also known as chronic insomnia or non-restorative sleep syndrome because it causes daytime fatigue instead of just poor quality rest at night time.


Sleep apnea involves periods when breathing stops for short periods during sleep due to shallow breathing or snoring; this happens more often through middle age than older adults do because many people develop obesity later on in life so their abdominal organs swell slightly more when they breathe out causing them not get enough oxygen into their bloodstreams properly therefore causing them not get enough restorative restful deep restful REM cycles



Poor sleep habits are linked with higher rates of depression and anxiety.

The brain contains specialised areas that regulate mood, including the hippocampus, which regulates stress responses; the amygdala, which affects emotions like fear; and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which regulates cognitive functions such as memory. If a person doesn't get enough sleep or has poor-quality sleep (due to insomnia or sleeping too much), these areas can be affected by stress hormones released during wakefulness—which can lead to negative mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety disorders.


Sleep deprivation also contributes to physical symptoms associated with depression: headaches; fatigue; irritability/moodiness; concentration problems/memory lapses/trouble concentrating on tasks at hand.




If you don't prioritise your sleep today, you will have to take care of your body and mind tomorrow instead.

Sleep is a biological necessity for humans that we all need in order to function properly. Sleep deprivation can cause serious health problems including high blood pressure and heart disease as well as impaired immune function, increased risk for diabetes and obesity, depression or anxiety disorders.


However, some people may not understand how important sleep is for their overall health or well-being until they experience an illness caused by poor quality or quantity of sleep. For example: one study found that those who had less than six hours per night were twice as likely as those sleeping seven hours each night at risk for developing type 2 diabetes compared with those who slept longer periods during the day; while another study found that people who slept fewer than five hours per night were up to three times more likely than others around them being diagnosed with depression within six months after diagnosis.



Tips for getting better sleep




Conclusion

Sleep is a natural part of our lives, and we need it to function at our best. Whether you're trying to lose weight, learn new skills or just stay healthy, sleep deprivation can negatively impact your life in many ways. We hope this post has helped you understand how important sleep really is for all of us!



Want to learn more? Check out all PE Buddy's videos https://www.youtube.com/c/PEBuddy/ Check out our website for more https://www.onlinepebuddy.com/ Get teaching resources for this topic https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Pe-Buddy Thanks legends! Mr D, your online PE Buddy


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