In our fast paced society, we are usually on the go, night and day! Many people work at nights and some large cities have activities 24 hours per day, 7 days per week!. Those who do not work at nights or live in big cities, get caught up with technology and social media to the point where rest during the night is minimal. School age children who do not get enough sleep, go to school so tired they fall asleep in class. Their excuse is usually that they went to bed late, usually after 12 midnight. How does that affect their education and ultimately their lives? Could this be a part of the reason for so many chronic diseases among young people?
Effects of too Little Sleep
Restful sleep is an extremely important part of maintaining health. National Sleep Foundation indicated that between 50 and 70 million Americans are affected by sleep disorders and hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year as direct cost to sleep disorders! Lack of sleep is linked to many diseases including, hypertension, heart disease, strokes, depression and diabetes. Apart from the health issues, hundreds of accidents happen each year and many lives lost due to sleep deprivation!
If the body does not get enough sleep, toxins build up and cells cannot function optimally. Lack of sleep may result result in
- stress,
- brain fog,
- inflammation,
- lack of energy,
- irritability,
- increased and/or suppressed anger,
- weight gain,
- impotence and
- dementia!
” Less than 7 hours of sleep affects the temporal lobes affecting learning and memory”
Dr. Rudel Davis; ND
Benefits of Sleep
Dr. Davis also indicated that each hour of sleep before midnight is equal to 2 hours of sleep!. During sleep, the brain cells are cleansed of toxins and other debris ( unwanted information), and important information is filed away (memory). The other organs of the body are cleansed and toxins are removed during the sleep cycles.
Enough restful sleep helps in weight loss and improves mood and a feeling of well-being because Serotonin, a hormone that transmits signals between nerve cells, is affected by sleep. Serotonin impacts psychiatric health and mood.
How Much Sleep?
Needs 11-14 hrs. sleep 
Needs 8 -10 hrs. sleep 
Needs 7- 8 hrs. sleep
Summary
Getting enough sleep will improve health significantly. Don’t want to be cranky around your colleagues, family and friends? Get enough sleep! The body is a marvelous creation that has a sleep/wake cycle. If this cycle is disrupted often for too long, we bear the consequences of disease. So, turn off the television, computer, video games or other gadgets and give your body some love by getting enough sleep, your cells will thank you for it!
Look Young, Stay Fit And Heart Healthy 