Sleep: Why Is It Important to Health?

A good night’s sleep is essential for an individual’s healthy life. Quality sleep is vital for one’s health and well-being, as well as making one feel good. In this article titled Why and How to Sleep by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the main focus is on the importance of sleep and recommendations for getting enough sleep. Sleep is essential as it promotes psychological, physical, and mental growth as well as reduces possible risks such as obesity, depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Without sleep, we can not afford to maintain the pathway in our brains that lets us learn and create new memories. Often, it is recommended that adults require about 7-9 hours of sleep but the majority of them tend to focus on other aspects such as entertainment, work, and study, thus failing to get enough sleep. Sleep regulates the majority of the systems and tissues in the body, with research indicating that lack of enough sleep results in risks such as obesity and diabetes. According to NINDS, “…without sleep it is harder to concentrate and respond quickly to situations and problems” (Basics, 2006, p.1). Additionally, dreams acquired during sleep are vital as they aid in processing emotions and realize faster solutions to problems. To acquire enough sleep, it is suggested that individuals should exercise, avoid caffeine, set schedules, and avoid bright lights before going to bed.

Lack of sleep has adverse effects on learning ability and memory functioning. According to the article Sleep, Learning, and Memory by Walker & Stickgold (2018), lack of sleep hams an individual’s ability to learn effectively and focus. Therefore, the study indicates that sleep is vital in strengthening the memory, thus enabling it to recall aspects in the future. Additionally, Walker & Stickgold (2018) reveal that without sleep, it is difficult for our brains to conceptualize and recall vital information. Sleep is also essential as it helps to sharpen a person’s mind, thus enabling them to learn new ideas. The study clearly states that lack of sleep increases the chances of high blood pressure; thus, each and everyone should ensure that he or she has an adequate sleep which is paramount.

In conclusion, getting enough sleep has various benefits, including ensuring effective psychological, physical and mental growth as well as eliminating possible cases of risks such as obesity, depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases of the heart. Therefore, there is a need for people to acquire enough sleep to realize improved learning and decision-making processes, thus enabling them to acquire new ideas and process information quickly.

References

Basics, B. (2006). Understanding sleep. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda. Web.

Walker, M. P., & Stickgold, R. (2018). Sleep-dependent learning and memory consolidation. Neuron, 44(1), 121-133.