How Sleep makes you happier, healthier, sexier, even thinner
Magic Power of Sleep #1 Live Longer and Healthier
A study by consultants AC Nielsen found that about 61% of Indians slept for seven hours or less daily and that 29% went to bed only after midnight. Not very good for our health. “The link between sleep and health, and bad sleep and disease, is becoming clearer,” says Dr Lawrence Epstein, author of The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep. There is a reason why high blood pressure has become an increasing problem. Blood pressure and heart rate are typically at their lowest levels during sleep; people who sleep less tend to have higher blood pressure. The association between hypertension and sleep duration could explain other research findings linking lack of sleep to increased risk of heart attack, diabetes, weight gain and other problems. Sleeping better may help
you fight off illness. “When people are sleep- deprived, there are higher levels of stress hormones in their bodies and an increase in inflammation, both of which can decrease immune function,” says Dr Phyllis Zee, associate director of the Centre for Sleep and Circadian Biology at a US university.
In fact, good sleep may make your flu shot work better as well. In a US study, men who were vaccinated while being deprived of sleep (they were not allowed to sleep more than four hours night) produced less than half the antibodies to the flu virus as vaccinated men who got a full night’s sleep.
Simply stated, people who sleep well live longer. So say good night sooner, and it may help you Stay active and vital to a ripe old age.
Magic Power of Sleep #2 Look Better, Feel Better
People limited to only four or five hours of sleep a night for several nights not only experience more physical ailments, such as headaches and stomach problems, but also undergo changes in metabolism similar to those occurring with normal aging. It’s no wonder we look terrible after sleepless night.
One of the reasons may be growth hormones. They’re essential to keeping us looking good as we get older. Levels of the hormone drop dramatically between the ages of 20 and 60, says heart surgeon Dr Mehmet C. Oz. “Growth hormones are rejuvenating,” he says. “When you have high levels of the hormone, you have muscle mass, better skin—you look sexy. You want to keep your growth hormones high as possible, and the number one best way to do that is sleep.”
When you don’t look good, you don’t feel sexy, and your relationship can suffer. So getting more sleep can rev up your love life too.
Magic Power of Sleep #3 Be Happier, Less stressed
According to experts, the worldwide prevalence of insomnia is 10%. People with insomnia produce higher rates of stress hormones than others, according to new research. This puts their bodies in a hyper-aroused state that can make it difficult for them to wind down and sleep. The inability to sleep causes more stress, which can have a devastating impact.
“You’re depressed, you keep forgetting things—not sleeping was the most horrible thing that ever happened to me,” recalls Paul Nielsen, 42, of Illinois, USA, who says that when his insomnia was at its worst, he went 30 days with only about 30 hours of sleep. “I missed days of work. I even drove my car onto the lawn and into some bushes because I just couldn’t focus anymore.”
“People who don’t sleep get depressed, and depression causes insomnia, so it’s a vicious cycle,” says Dr Oz. “But we know the inverse is true: that more and better sleep can make you feel happier.”
Magic Power of Sleep #4 Build a Better Brain
Not only does sleep deprivation lead to poor health, it also affects concentration, problem-solving skills, memory and mood. “Anything that disturbs the quality and quantity of sleep can have long-term consequences for both body and mind,” says Dr Gerard Lombardo, director of the Sleep Disorders Centre in New York. Lack of sleep can have cognitive and physical effects similar to those brought on by overindulging in alcohol. The performance of someone who’s been awake for 17 hours straight is about the same as if she had a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent (about two drinks in an hour).
Magic Power Of Sleep # 5 Lose a few Kilos
It should come as no surprise that the trend towards shorter sleep duration has coincided with an increasing trend towards obesity. Recent studies suggest that people who get inadequate amounts of sleep are more likely to gain weight. “With sleep deprivation, we see a reduction in metabolism and an increase in appetite,” explains Michael Breus, author of “Good Night:
The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health.” Inadequate sleep lowers levels of leptin, the hormone that causes you to feel full, while increasing levels of ghrelin, the hormone that makes you feel hungry.