Why You Need Your Sleep

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Consistent good quality sleep is one of the most critical factors for creating overall health and well-being.  It affects the way we feel, look, work, eat and function. Here is what happens to the sleep-deprived:

1) It can elevate blood sugar levels. 
2) It leads to weight gain by disturbing appetite regulation. A University of Chicago study recently found that a woman’s metabolism rises 40% when she gets enough sleep.
3) Getting fewer than 6 hours of sleep can raise the risk of viral infection by 50%.
4) Lack of sleep compromises the immune system (the body repairs during sleep).
5) It can raise blood levels of inflammatory activators.  Constant inflammation can lead to cancer, premature aging heart disease and more.
6) Research is showing a connection between sleep deprivation to a nightly rise in blood pressure that lasts through the day.
7) Less than 7 hours of sleep per night may cause anxiety symptoms, moodiness, depression, and overuse of alcohol.

It turns out that sleep-driving plagues about 60% of adult drivers (168 million Americans have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year alone).  37% of all drivers have actually fallen asleep at the wheel.  11 million drivers admit that their sleepiness has caused an accident or near-accident.

So, strive to get 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep per night. If you are unable to do so, please reach out for some tips in doing so and some habits you can create — and leave behind — in order to get your zzzzz’s.

Your HC,

Beth

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