The Importance of Sleep 

By Kara W.

 

We all have that aching feeling in the morning when the alarm goes off. You

probably want to stay in bed and get a few extra hours of sleep. Whether you have school, work, or simply anything that requires focus and action, it's crucial to be well-rested. The night before you might’ve stayed up late doing homework, playing video games, or hanging out with friends, and while these activities may be important to you, there can be harmful effects on your body if you don't get a sufficient amount of sleep. If you prioritize your sleep, your body will receive tremendous benefits.

The problem is, very few Americans regularly attain the recommended eight hours of sleep each night. A Gallup poll discovered that 40% of Americans reported getting six hours of sleep or less each night. By doing this they are putting aside the needs of their bodies. That is almost half of the 331 million Americans who are chronically sleep-deprived!  This means that almost 165 million Americans are promoting poor health for their bodies in the future.

Psychologists and psychiatrists have been arguing for years that one of the most significant public health problems in the U.S. is that many American adults are chronically sleep-deprived. Being sleep-deprived can cause long-term effects that impact people’s lives every day.

In December 1963, a high school student, Randy Gardner, held an experiment to find out how his body would react if he stayed awake for 11 days. After a few days, it was a strenuous task to stay awake. Gradually, he started to see mental and physical issues, such as trouble focusing on his surroundings, becoming grouchy, speech slurring, hallucinations, difficulty staying up, and constantly being forgetful. Randy was failing to manage his own body and stay healthy. He got very weak just from missing out on something as simple as sleep.

A more recent 2015 study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry stated,“children’s sleep patterns can have a direct impact on their behavior and academic performance.” Missing out on the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep nightly can affect you more than make you groggy and resentful. The effects that come with sleep deprivation are detrimental to one's health. Some of these symptoms and effects include mood changes, muscle weakness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, increases in stress levels, impulsive behavior, and hallucinations. Not getting adequate sleep can make you too tired to exercise, and exercise is very important for physical health. There is also a risk factor for becoming obese later in life because sleep affects the hormones that control feelings of hunger and fullness. The consequences of being sleep-deprived can be disastrous.

A shocking but scary fact is that getting less than six hours of sleep continuously makes you 48% more likely to die of heart disease and 15% more likely to have a stroke.  A different statistical fact says,“ A review of studies in 2010 found that sleeping too little a night increases the risk of early death.” To sum it up, sleep is the root of your health. It can control small things like your mood, but also big health problems that can have an immense impact on the way you live your life. Many people don’t realize what they are doing to their bodies and minds when they skip sleep. Even if the effects don’t come right away, you will see them later in life, and you will regret staying up late.

Now that you know how adverse it can be when you miss sleep, the question is: What can I do to get back on a healthy sleep schedule? There are lots of little ways to improve your sleep. Avoiding daytime naps, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, spending the hour before you go to bed doing relaxing activities, avoiding heavy meals a few hours before bed, not using electronics before bed, and exercising regularly are all tips that will help you sleep better. The last part of achieving a healthy sleep cycle is putting in the effort, and maintaining the schedule that works for your body.

If you recognize sleeping as a prime part of your health, your body and mind will thank you. During your sleep, your body heals itself and restores chemical balance. It also builds infection-fighting substances to protect you from illnesses. You will see a difference in how you feel and function daily. When you wake up, your body will feel replenished after a long night of healing and growing. You will finally have energy for the things you love. Your days will feel all the more worth it when you are fulfilled with vitality. It’s rewarding in the end when your health is thriving.

          In conclusion, it’s substantial to your health to pay attention to and achieve a healthy sleep cycle. There are serious mental and physical health effects that come from sleep deprivation. You can’t go back to fix these problems when you are older.  If you focus on getting about eight hours of sleep each night, your health will shine. You have the power to take control and make your own decisions. It's time to wake up and make a change in what you’re doing now!  Every choice you make plays out in your future.