The Science of Sleep

It may seem obvious that sleep is beneficial. Even without fully grasping what sleep does for us, we know that going without sleep for too long makes us feel terrible, and that getting a good night's sleep can make us feel ready to take on each day. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough sleep. Going without sufficient sleep carries with it both short- and long-term consequences.

 In the short-term, a deficiency of sleep can negatively affect your mood, as well as your ability to make good decisions, learn and retain information. By not getting enough sleep you can also increase the risk of a serious accident and injury.

In the long-term, sleep deprivation will lead to a wide range of health problems, including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even early mortality. Sleep deprivation also has a major impact on cognitive functioning as well as on emotional and physical health.

Sleep plays such a vital role in a person’s rehabilitation after suffering a serious injury as a result of an accident. It will help control weight gain, if immobilized, heal the body and mind faster, and provide you with an increased ability to get back to the quality of life you had prior to the injury.

Scientists have gone to great lengths to fully understand the benefits of sleep. In studies, they have discovered that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.

Being chronically tired to the point of fatigue or exhaustion means that we are less likely to perform well. Neurons do not fire optimally, muscles are not rested, and the body’s organ systems are not synchronized.

By: Steven Smyth