In today’s busy world, we constantly face choices and sacrifices, but sometimes those sacrifices come at a larger cost than we realize. This is especially true when the sacrifice is sleep. What many of us don’t realize is that when we deprive ourselves of healthy sleep we are actually giving up much more than puffy free, refreshed eyes and a happy demeanor. Consider three benefits you miss when you lose those precious Zzzzs.
1. Maintaining a healthy weight
One of the best habits you can combine with a healthy diet and exercise program is an earlier bedtime. According to the University of Chicago, sleep deprived people lost much more muscle mass and much less fat than those who were well rested. The weight loss of well rested individuals consisted of 56 percent fat. Getting enough sleep also has the ability to quench cravings. Many of us tend to do most of our snacking late at night, so by going to bed earlier you can resist the snacking temptation.
2. Staying sharp
Your body does a lot of important stuff while you sleep to keep you sharp. A University of Pennsylvania study found that being awake for extended periods of time can injure neurons in your brain necessary for alertness and cognition. Those who regularly sacrifice precious sleep can find themselves becoming more forgetful and having a difficult time learning new things day to day—this can have negative effects on home and work life alike.
3. Keeping the flu and colds away
According to researchers at Harvard University, when you deprive yourself of sleep, your body is at greater risk of infection. Without enough sleep, you deny your body the necessary rejuvenation and restoration it needs to keep you healthy! When you make sleep a priority you are also building a strong immune system. This is a prime example of how sacrificing those one to two hours of sleep of night to increase productivity can cause you to lose full days or even weeks of productivity if you become sick. Do the math— sleep sacrificing is a losing game.
Sleep Tip:
“It’s harder than it sounds”
Changing habits can be difficult, even after you learn and begin to desire all of these great benefits. If you typically go to bed past midnight and wake up before dawn, and then try to go to bed at 9 p.m. to log 10 hours of Zzzzs on the first day, it probably won’t work out for you. Instead, gradually acclimate your body to the change. Move your bedtime by a half hour to an hour every three or four nights until you get to your desired amount of sleep. It will leave you feeling more normalized and your body will not fight you as hard in the transition.
Still having trouble?
Consider the GRMC Sleep Lab. Patients are seen on a referral basis (meaning that the primary care physician or another specialist refers patients) by Melisa Coaker, MD, at GRMC to evaluate sleep problems.
For more information about sleep disorders, sleep studies, or to schedule a sleep test, contact GRMC Sleep Lab at 515-358-9640, where Coaker awaits to help you sleep well.
By Courtney Petersen
GRMC Summer Intern
Sources:
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/consequences/sleep-and-disease-risk
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