How sleep controls your life

Sleeping is something we all do isn't it? Some do it more, some do it less, nevertheless we all do it. Let's see the big role it plays on all of our lives.

Sleep is important for many reasons and significantly affects many dimensions of

wellness and quality of life. Sleep requirements vary from person to person, but in

general, adults typically need between 7 and 8 hours per night to feel well rested.

For a helpful visual on typical sleep requirements across the age spectrum see figure

above. Although some adults can function normally on less sleep, others may require

significantly more. How can you know if you are getting enough sleep? Sleepiness

during the day is a simple but clear indicator that your body requires more sleep. Significant

sleepiness during the day suggests the need for more or better sleep, or both.

You may also benefit from tracking your sleep habits and trends (18).

Lack of sleep is more than just an annoyance. Sleep is important for the body to

function as intended; such functions include the following

• Heart rate and blood pressure naturally fluctuate during sleep to promote cardiovascular

health.

• Cells and tissues are repaired as growth hormone is released during deep sleep.

• Immune function is promoted with the creation of cytokines that target infections.

• Hormones related to appetite change (leptin, which suppresses appetite, increases

while ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, decreases).