The benefits of sleep are often overlooked because of their simplicity. We all know that without sleep, life is literally and metaphorically impossible. Day-to-day tasks such as focus and motivation are harder because we are tired. In the same manner, day-to-day functions such as keeping our cardiovascular system in check and cell repair through the release of hormones are actions the body takes only while one is asleep.
Going into a bit more depth on how sleep affects our cardiovascular system, studies have shown that while people sleep, their heart rates rise and fall, which affects their blood pressure. Sleeping problems mean that the blood pressure of that person stays higher for more hours since that person is awake, which in turn tends to be the cause of more serious health conditions such as coronary heart disease and stroke.
Continuing with the idea of sleep and its health benefits, we can see that a lack of sleep can also indirectly cause a higher chance of obesity. This was proven by a study that showed that sleep can affect the way the brain releases hormones for all sorts of different functions throughout the day. An example of such hormones are Ghrelin and Leptin, two hunger-increasing and decreasing hormones, respectively. These hormones are altered when an individual’s sleep time is altered. A lack of sleep can cause an increase in Ghrelin release and a decrease in Leptin. This then causes the affected person to have a higher drive to eat more throughout the day. If this is then accumulated throughout multiple days, weeks, months, and even years, the chance of the individual becoming obese is significantly higher. All have the root cause of unhealthy amounts of sleep.
Another common health issue that is associated with sleep is type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that losing as little as two hours of sleep may cause an increase in insulin resistance and a decrease in glucose resistance. High blood sugar and diabetes are then prone to cause an increase in cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides, which ultimately damage nerves and blood vessels. All of these health problems are also sources of cardiovascular health conditions that increase the risk of death and stem from a lack of sleep.
To give one last example of how sleep affects human health, we can take a look at mental health. Sleep helps maintain cognitive skills such as learning, attention, and memory. All of these are affected when a non-sufficient amount of sleep is attained. Poor sleep is able to make it much more difficult to cope with minor stressors that occur in our everyday lives. Small issues that can usually be dismissed or solved easily can much more easily irritate a person when they are suffering from sleep deprivation, which may then begin to cause mental health issues.
In conclusion, sleep is a vital part of our lives, and it is important to take into account how many different aspects of our lives it influences. Without it, the quality of a person’s life is diminished exponentially and can even lead to death sooner.
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