We realized that this title may be deceiving so we should probably clear up what we mean. Sleep alone will not help you achieve your health and beauty goals. Diet and  cardio exercises are just as important. The key words in that last sentence were “just as”.

Sure, eating fast food and too much sugar will leave you with pimples. Not getting a good workout in three days a week can leave you feeling lethargic and out of shape. The point we are trying to make is that sleep is as important to reach health and beauty goals as the best diet and exercise routine out there.

Why Is Sleep So Important?

Our bodies go through a great deal of activity while we are sleeping and we don’t even know it. When we hit the stage of deep sleep our brains create long-term memories out of short-term memories. It is also during deep sleep when our bodies start making growth hormones like crazy, which set out to repair cell damage and produce new ones. A lot goes on when we sleep.

Are You Sleeping?

There are many reasons why a person might not get the sleep they need, which is a recommended 8 hours a day. You might be a workaholic or a fun-aholic, or a little bit of both. Point is, you are the type to put off sleeping so you get something done or you don’t miss out. If that is the case, then you need to stop. Get the sleep you need or suffer the consequences.

You may be suffering from hip, shoulder, back, or neck pain when you are in bed. If that is the case then you may want to take a look at your mattress. If your mattress is older than a decade you should seriously consider replacing it. There are a good deal of mattresses available for purchase on the internet, which cut a good deal of the buyers cost.

The Lull mattress is a highly rated, quality mattress you can purchase without breaking the bank. The Sleep Judge reviewed this mattress and found that it’s affordable, has low motion transfer, and is great for those who suffer from shoulder or hip pain.

If you aren’t sleeping due to insomnia, possibly caused by sleep apnea then you should seek out professional help.

What Happens When You Don’t Sleep?

Sleep deprivation is a very serious problem. Rats that have been kept awake for two weeks have died from a lack of sleep. It is apparent that our bodies need sleep to survive. If you are lacking sleep you might experience a few of the following.

Heart problems

Your chances of developing heart disease or having a stroke definitely increase when you are only getting a few hours of sleep each night. Getting too much sleep (more than 9 hours a night) can also have a negative effect on your heart. These results were published in the European Heart Journal.

Bags

Under your eyes. This happens because your body isn’t able to balance it’s hydration. Excess water that is slotted for release is absorbed into your skin. When you don’t get the sleep you need, then your body doesn’t have time to complete this process, which leaves deep dark bags under your eyes. This imbalance in moisture can also lead to wrinkles and excessive dryness.

Cancerous

Breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer have all been linked to poor sleep according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. They found that people who work the overnight shift suffer the most. They also found that both genders who got the sleep they needed had the best mortality rates.

You Age Quickly

When you aren’t sleeping the required 8 hours a day, your body’s aging process starts to speed up. This is because when our body missed out on deep sleep, it stops producing growth hormones for cell repair. After time, the damage done will become more and more noticeable.

Diabetes

Sleep deprivdation has been associated with weight gain, which can lead to adult-onset diabetes. Insulin issues can arise if you don’t get at least 7 – 8 hours of sleep a night.

Immunity Problems

Inflammation in the body will alter the strength of your immune system. If this happens, you will catch more colds and bugs than if your immune system was working to it best capacity. This can lead to breakouts of skin related immune diseases like eczema and psoriasis. The latter is an indication that your inner body also suffers from inflammation.

Conclusion

These are just a handful of the problems that can arise when you don’t get the adequate amount of sleep required. The good news is that all it will take to stop these is to start sleeping 7 – 8 hours every night. If you try but can’t, seek medical attention so the problem doesn’t persist or get worse. Most of all, get that great healing deep sleep. You deserve it.