10 Reasons To Get Your Sleep

10 Reasons to get your sleep:

• Less may mean more. People who don't get at least seven hours of sleep a night the more obese they tend to be. Insufficient sleep may trigger hunger hormones. Leptin, which suppresses the appetite is lowered and ghrelin, which stimulates the appetite increases.


• You're more apt to make bad food choices. A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people with obstructive sleep apnea and other severe breathing difficulties while sleeping, ate a diet higher in cholesterol, protein, and fat. Women were especially affected.


• Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance may become more likely.


• A heart's health is put at risk. A study found that heart attacks were 45% more likely in women who slept for five or less hours a night than those who got more sleep.


• Blood pressure may increase.


• Auto accidents rise. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine states that nearly 20% of serious car crashes involve a sleepy driver that hasn't been drinking alcohol.


• Balance is off. Older adults who have trouble sleeping at night or who are drowsy during the day could be 2.4 - 4.5 times more likely to sustain a fall per the Journal of Gerontology.


• You may be more prone to depression. Adults who are chronically sleep deprived report more mental distress, depression, and alcohol use. Children/adolescents often suffer too and as a result they report more symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem.


• Kids may suffer more behavior problems. These problems include disordered breathing with obesity, and ADHD.

As you can see not getting enough sleep can have many severe consequences at any age, so if you are having trouble getting to sleep on a regular basis consult your physician. It could help lengthen your life as well as improve your quality of life.