In todays society, the subject of sleep is getting more and more attention because of one reason only – more people every day suffer from sleep deprivation, and this is becoming a serious issue that concerns us all.
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It is about time to start working together in order to find a solution for this particular issue, as a research shows that one out of three Americans does not get their proper night of sleep.
If you Do Not Sleep Properly
It constantly seems that we need more time, and yet, we all end up working late in the night. We need more sleep because when we wake up well rested, we have more energy and concentration, we are more productive, healthier, more positive and feel much better.
You dont use sleeping just for refreshment. The proper amount of sleep affects our entire health. First you should get enough sleep in order to maintain a healthier and longer life.
Because of all this, we will recommend you a pattern about the amount of sleep depending on your age. This is according to the National Sleep Foundation:
- Newborns, 0-3 months should sleep 14-17 hours
- Infants, 4-11 months should sleep 12-15 hours
- Toddlers from 1-2 years should sleep 11-14 hours
- Preschool children, 3-5 years should sleep 10-13 hours
- School-age children, 6-13 years should sleep 9-11 hours
- Teenagers, 14-17 years should sleep 8-10 hours
- The younger adults, 18-25 years should sleep 7-9 hours
- Adults, 26-64 years should sleep 7-9 hours
- Adults, 65+ years should sleep 7-8 hours
But, as we previously stated, we do not sleep enough. A group of Norwegian neuroscientists have assembled to work on discovering the issues that lead to a sleep deprived state.
The lack of sleep changes the white matter within the brain. Luckily for us, our bodies are able to repair themselves. When we get enough sleep, our body reverses the changes that occurred in the white matter of the brain.
But it is not just our brain that suffers. The lack of sleep can interfere with our genes too. If a person goes without a decent time of sleep for a longer period of time, here is what will definitely happen to the body:
- Sleep deprivation leaks to a blurry mind, weakened reasoning, slower problem solving skills, slower reaction times, and definitely a poor decision making.
- People who sleep less than five hours during the night have a greater risk of obesity and tend to gain more weight.
- Not getting enough sleep makes your body more prone to diseases because it weakens the immune system.
- Another thing – sleep deprivation harms your heart too. You will have an increased chance of a heart disease or a heart attack.
- The brain consolidates things while we sleep so that we can remember them with ease. When we lack sleep, this task is harder for us.
- People between the ages of 30 and 50 who have not had a decent night of sleep have shown to have more wrinkles, dark spots and age spots on their skin.
- Men who sleep less than five hours a day have lower testosterone levels making their sex drive lower as well. The sex hormone levels are then reduced by 15%.
- Sleep deprivation can gradually lead to cancer. In one research, people who had their proper night of sleep had the lowest mortality rate.