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The Health Benefits Of Having A Regular Bedtime

October 24, 2023

Getting enough sleep is vital for many reasons. The body needs to rest for a certain amount of time each night for it to replenish itself. When your body is well rested, you will have sufficient energy for the next day. Sleep occurs when consciousness is temporarily suspended, eyes are closed, the muscles are relaxed, and the nervous system is inactive. Sleep deprivation is a common problem and chances are if you are feeling tired throughout the day, you aren't getting enough sleep at night. Developing a stable bedtime routine is essential. There are several benefits to having a regular bedtime. Get to know some of the biggest health benefits now.

Reduces The Risk Of Obesity

The risk of obesity rises when you do not get enough sleep. This is because if you are up during the hours your body should be asleep, your hormones become unbalanced. The hormones that are supposed to suppress your appetite during sleep don't when you are awake and you end up overeating or making poor food choices as a result. If this becomes a habitual problem, it can lead to weight issues like obesity. Also if you don't sleep enough, it can lead to a lack of energy and apathy. Feeling less energy to make healthy food choices and indulging in the easy accessibility of fast food is likely to happen. These poor food choices contribute to causing weight gain. If you get an ample amount of sleep nightly, you will make better food choices and keep the hormones responsible for appetite suppression in balance.

Lowers The Risk Of Hypertension

Individuals who sleep less than six hours a night are prone to developing high blood pressure. This is due to the fact when you begin to sleep, your blood pressure naturally drops. Sleeping helps the blood in your body monitor stress hormones and improve your nervous system's overall state. But if you are not getting enough sleep, then your blood pressure will start to surge sporadically, which can be very detrimental to the health. One cause of interrupted sleep is the condition called sleep apnea. It occurs when you repeatedly stop and start breathing during slumber. It is important to talk to a doctor if you suffer from sleep apnea. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night can help with preventing and treating high blood pressure.

Reduces The Risk Of Heart Disease

When the body lacks sleep, it can lead to a plethora of cardiovascular problems. Individuals who battle insomnia while suffering from diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure are more likely to develop serious heart disease and strokes. Individuals who are already suffering from heart failure often battle sleep issues. There are two types of sleep disorders related to heart failure. They are orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND). Orthopnea happens when breaths become short while supine. PND occurs when sleep is disrupted so suddenly that it is nearly impossible to return to the original state of initial slumber. Visit a doctor to discuss taking a polysomnogram exam so appropriate measures can be taken to increase the quality of sleep.

Improves Brain Function

There is a correlation between the amount of sleep received and cognitive functioning. If you get an appropriate amount of sleep, your brain will function more fluidly. When you are sleep deprived, parts of your brain become altered and your cognitive performance is adversely affected. One part of the brain commonly affected is the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher brain functions like language execution, divergent thinking, and creativity. Brain function diminishes and general attentiveness decreases when you are sleep deprived. Developing a routine, quality sleep schedule will help improve functioning in the prefrontal cortex and other parts of the brain.

Perform Better At Work And School

Sleep plays an important role in school and work performance. It is critical to get plenty of sleep so you can do well in all your activities and responsibilities. A lack of sleep can contribute to difficulty concentrating and remembering information. The recommended amount of sleep for children is approximately ten hours. Adults need about eight hours of sleep each night. Be sure to limit tablet and phone time, so it does not cause unnecessary distractions that can cut into your bedtime. Also try to keep your television or computer out of the bedroom so it is free of noises and helps ensure a quiet, peaceful environment. Implementing a consistent sleep schedule prepares one for healthy lifetime habits and promotes effective learning.

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