Sleep your way thin?

Sleep is a crucial part of health. It is when your body does most

of the repair and recuperation that you need.

Here is some valuable information:

Get More Sleep - 6 Reasons You Need It

A recent survey found that more people are sleeping less than six

hours a night, and sleep difficulties visit 75% of us at least a

few nights per week. A short-lived bout of insomnia is generally

nothing to worry about. The bigger concern is chronic sleep loss,

which can contribute to health problems such as weight gain, high

blood pressure, and a decrease in the immune system's power,

reports the Harvard Women's Health Watch.

While more research is needed to explore the links between chronic

sleep loss and health, it's safe to say that sleep is too important

to shortchange.

The Harvard Women's Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough

sleep:

1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new

information to memory through a process called memory

consolidation. In studies, people who'd slept after learning a task

did better on tests later.

2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause

weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store

carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our

appetite.

3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall

asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and

mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road

accidents.

4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience,

inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also

leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.

5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked

to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular

heartbeat.

6. Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the

activity of the body's killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also

help fight cancer.

get some sleep tonight. Your body will love you for it!