7 Reasons Why Sleep Is Important For Everyone

While a long, restful night of sleep  feels great the next morning, you likely don't think much of it if you don't have an optimal night's rest every single night. Most adults would agree that they don't get as much sleep as they like to, but they just accept it as a part of being a busy, hardworking person.

Unfortunately, poor sleep quality isn't just a minor inconvenience; it can also be a health issue. If you're wondering about the importance of sleeping well, these interesting facts will show you just how important it is for your body and mind.

• The most obvious sign of a good night's rest is improved mental function. You'll notice that you feel much more alert and able to perform at your highest capacity at work, school or other tasks. If you don't get enough sleep, it may be more difficult to react to questions or problems, and you may feel sluggish, slow and irritable.
• A good night of sleep can decrease inflammation, which is linked to health concerns like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis. Studies show that those who get less than 6 hours of sleep each night have higher levels of these inflammatory proteins.
• Sleeping longer makes you better at physical and athletic activities, so if you plan on hitting the gym in the morning, you'll want to make sure to hit the hay early. Studies prove that athletes who got 10 hours of sleep at night for eight weeks improved their sprint times and performed better than before.
• Getting a high quality night of sleep may also improve your chances of losing weight. Those who get more sleep when on a diet often lose more fat than those who get less sleep, while on the flip side, those who got less sleep lost more muscle mass.If you're on a diet and trying to shed a few pounds, try going to bed earlier and you may see better results.
• Feeling stressed out? Make it a priority to get more sleep. Doctors agree that adults need a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night in order to avoid feeling stressed out and tense. While stress may seem like a minor, fleeting issue, in the long run, those who have high stress levels often have high blood pressure, bad cholesterol levels, and later in life, even heart disease.
• Getting enough sleep may even prevent your risk of getting in a car accident. In the past few years, studies show that being tired accounts for more fatal single person car accidents than even alcohol! Driving without getting enough sleep can be even more dangerous than driving under the influence, which could endanger both your life and the lives of those on the road around you.
• A good night's sleep also helps to ward off depression and improve your sense of well-being. Your emotional stability improves on account of a good night's sleep, and it also reduces anxiety that over time, leads to depression.