It is a good practice to stick to a constant pattern of sleep. If one does not get enough sleep, the risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases is doubled, says a study by some researchers from the Warwick University and the University College London. The study also claimed that excess of sleep results in similar risks.

Actually, people who have a constant sleep pattern, like say, seven to eight hours every night, live longer than people who make their sleep schedule flexible. Even from an everyday standpoint, there is a direct correlation between a healthy life and good sleep which cannot be ignored.

Plus the amount of concentration on everyday activities is greatly influenced by sleep. For example, inadequate sleep can lead to mental fatigue, or mood swings, and if not taken seriously, can pose serious health problems in the long term. Some of those health issues risked by it are heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. which lower an individual’s life expectancy.

Excessive sleep can increase the mortality rate. In a study by researchers as mentioned above, the results showed that the mortality rate of people who increased their sleep hours from seven to eight hours or more every night, doubled. Normal sleep is what should suffice, however, for the average person. ‘Normal sleep’ differs from person to person. There is no fixed number of hours, but it is suggested that the sleep schedule must be more or less fixed.

Do not Compromise on Your Sleep

The hormone ‘melatonin’ is produced at night by the pineal gland. This hormone makes one drowsy and has an immense contribution in making a person sleep a peaceful night. Besides aiding in sleep, it is also an antioxidant which supports the immune system. Lack of sleep can have a very harmful effect on the immune system, thus making us pretty vulnerable to disorders and diseases, ranging from the normal ones like the common cold, to major ones like diabetes. While sleeping, the immune system gets an opportunity to fight any disease which could cause a virus or bacteria which we might have picked up. Not getting enough sleep makes it difficult for the immune system to function properly. Lack of sleep also results in stress which directly weakens the immune system.

Affecting the Mood

Anxiety and stress can cause us to have sleepless nights; sleepless nights can also lead to anxiety and stress, which turns into a cycle that is not easy to break. The human body has a chemical chain which indicates stress. A good night’s sleep blocks the reaction of the chain by not allowing the stress-producing chemicals from being formed. A few studies have also revealed that less sleep can give a huge impetus to any stress-producing hormones the next day. This can lead to mood swings which result in behaviors like anger, crying, etc. Over a period of time, lack of sleep can negatively affect both our personal and professional lives, making us prone to emotional breakdowns.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: immune system ,high blood pressure,diabetes,health problems ,heart diseases,healthy life