The Science of Sleep

The Science of Sleep

Studying the effects of sleepAdequate sleep correlates to many other aspects of good health. It's imperative that you get the right amount of rest to let your body recharge and repair itself. According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly a third of working adults in America—roughly 41 million people—get less than six hours of sleep a night. That number of sleep-deprived people is up about 25% from 1990. We have so many different stressors in our society today: work, deadlines, relationships, etc. We often tend to sacrifice sleep to try to get ahead, or even just to keep up. An article on WebMD claims "more and more scientific studies are showing correlations between poor quality sleep and/or insufficient sleep with a variety of diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression."

Also, the April 2013 News in Health newsletter from the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, states "Sleep helps you think more clearly, have quicker reflexes and focus better."