Sleep can impact many aspects of your life including your mental health, physical health, and quality of life. Fatigue due to lack of sleep can also be dangerous when walking and driving. Here are some specifics on how sleep affects the different areas of your life:
Mental Health
- Sleep is needed for your brain to work properly
- Sleep can enhance learning and problem-solving skills
- Lack of sleep can cause behavioral and emotional issues such as feelings of anger, impulsiveness, depression, and mood-swings
Physical Health
- Chronic sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and obesity
- Sleep is needed for your immune system to stay strong and healthy; lack of sleep can put our body at an increased risk of infection
- Sleep is important for healthy growth and development
The following suggestions are ways that have been shown to help people get more sleep at night:
Source: National Heart, Lunch, and Blood Institute. Why is sleep important? http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sdd/why. Updated February 22, 2012. Accessed May 28, 2015.
Updated 4/9/2020