{"id":60830,"date":"2023-10-16T10:49:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T14:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60830"},"modified":"2026-02-16T11:09:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:09:33","slug":"why-is-sleep-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/why-is-sleep-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is sleep important?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many, the best part of the day is getting into bed for a good night\u2019s sleep. Some people even think of sleep as a guilty pleasure. The good news, though, is that sleep is not a luxury\u2014it\u2019s a necessity. Getting enough sleep, in terms of both quantity and quality, is important for the body. Sleep is critical for both physical and mental health, and not getting enough sleep can increase the risk for many conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a statement saying that sleep is essential to health. Continue reading to learn more about why we need sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-science-behind-sleep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The science behind sleep<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What happens when we sleep? The short answer: a lot! Let\u2019s dive in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two internal mechanisms work together to regulate sleep and wake cycles:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Circadian rhythms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are in charge of many functions such as temperature, metabolism, and hormones. These rhythms make you feel tired at night and help you wake up in the morning. The body\u2019s biological clock controls most circadian rhythms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sleep-wake homeostasis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reminds the body when it is time to sleep. It knows when you need to sleep longer and more deeply. This can be affected by medical conditions, medicines you take, stress, diet, sleep environment, and light exposure.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two types of sleep are rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep. The body goes through all stages of both types of sleep each night, with longer and deeper REM periods toward the morning hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stage 1 non-REM sleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is when you go from being awake to falling asleep. You are in a light sleep. Your heartbeat, breathing, and eye movements slow down, and muscles relax as brain waves slow down.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stage 2 non-REM sleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a period of light sleep, before you enter into a deeper sleep. The heartbeat and breathing remain slower, muscles relax more, body temperature drops, and your eyes stop moving. Brain wave activity slows, but there are quick bursts of electrical activity. This is the sleep cycle where you spend the most time throughout the night.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stage 3 non-REM sleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a deep sleep that helps you feel refreshed when you wake up. Your heartbeat and breathing are at their lowest levels. Brain waves are even slower. It is difficult to wake up during this stage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>REM sleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> starts about 90 minutes after you first fall asleep. Your eyes move back and forth behind closed eyelids. Brain wave activity is more similar to that when you are awake. Breathing becomes faster and irregular, and heart rate and blood pressure increase. This stage is where most of your dreaming happens, and your arm and leg muscles are temporarily paralyzed, keeping you from \u201cacting out your dreams.\u201d As you get older, you spend less time in REM sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"how-much-sleep-do-i-need\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much sleep do I need?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines sleep requirements <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/sleep\/about_sleep\/how_much_sleep.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by age<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To summarize sleep requirements for older children and adults:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adults ages 18 to 60 years old need at least 7 hours of sleep per night<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adults ages 61-64 years old need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adults age 65 years and older need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teenagers (13-18 years old) need 8 to 10 hours of sleep in 24 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School-age children (6-12 years old) need 9 to 12 hours of sleep in 24 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equally as important as sleep quantity is sleep quality. If you are sleeping 8 hours a night but waking up every hour, that is not quality sleep. You may be experiencing poor sleep quality if you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wake up not feeling rested after a full night of sleep<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wake up throughout the night<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have symptoms of sleep disorder like snoring, gasping, or choking<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To improve sleep quality, follow the sleep hygiene tips outlined in the section below called How to improve sleep quality\u2014and see a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of a sleep disorder.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"physical-benefits-of-sleep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical benefits of sleep<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who do not get enough sleep are at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27743803\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">higher risk<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for conditions such as obesity, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/diabetes-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/hypertension-treatments-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high blood pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/high-cholesterol-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high cholesterol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, heart disease, stroke, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/depression-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">depression<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. And many of these conditions become a cycle with sleep\u2014for example, lack of sleep may contribute to diabetes, and then when you have diabetes, you have trouble sleeping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting enough sleep can provide you with many physical benefits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"immunity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Immunity<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We depend on our immune systems to prevent illness, as well as fight illness when we are sick. Sleep helps support the immune system. Getting enough <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/physical-health\/how-sleep-affects-immunity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quality sleep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> helps the immune system. While sleeping, the immune system works behind the scenes to remember how to recognize and react to antigens (substances that cause an immune response). Sleep is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30867162\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one of many factors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that help the body respond better to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/savings-vaccines-for-children-teens-seniors\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vaccines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, people with sleep problems like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/insomnia-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insomnia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/sleep-apnea-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep apnea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may have an immune system that does not function as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"weight-management\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who sleep <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30364557\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">less than seven hours<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a night on a regular basis are more likely to have obesity and a higher body mass index (BMI). Lower quantity and quality of sleep often lead to increased caloric intake, often with foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies show that better sleep quantity and quality <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4861065\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">help people lose weight<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our wellness newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Wellness Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heart-health-including-blood-pressure\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart health, including blood pressure<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4791534\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies show<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that not getting enough sleep can affect the heart, and is associated with stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4543249\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleeping 9 hours or more<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> per night may also be associated with high blood pressure and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29206050\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heart disease<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with sleep disturbances, such as sleep apnea, are more likely to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/STROKEAHA.118.023553\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have a stroke<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as a worse outcome after having a stroke.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep is so important to heart health that the American Heart Association <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.heart.org\/news\/american-heart-association-adds-sleep-to-cardiovascular-health-checklist\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has added sleep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to its cardiovascular health checklist, noting that adults should sleep between seven and nine hours per night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cuimc.columbia.edu\/news\/sleep-good-your-heart\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Columbia University Irving Medical Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> state that the heart benefits from consistent sleep, citing studies that found older adults with the most irregular sleep schedules were almost twice as likely to develop heart disease compared to people with regular sleep patterns. Keeping a regular schedule of going to sleep and waking up at around the same time every day can help with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/normal-heart-rate\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heart rate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/blood-pressure-levels\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blood pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and other heart functions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"blood-sugar-metabolism-and-diabetes\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood sugar metabolism and diabetes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6473416\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that not sleeping enough (in terms of both quantity and quality), or sleeping too much (more than 9 hours per night) can be related to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/insulin-resistance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insulin resistance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014although they note that the relationship between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/type-2-diabetes-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and not sleeping enough is much better understood than sleeping too much.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26687279\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> analyzed 36 clinical trials with over one million participants and found that people with poor sleep quality (as well as those with sleep apnea or who were shift workers, both associated with sleep disturbances) had a similar risk of diabetes to people with risk factors such as family history, being overweight, and not being physically active.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleeping better may help <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/physical-health\/sleep-and-blood-glucose-levels\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">control blood sugar levels<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The CDC reminds patients that proper sleep helps with diabetes management as well as mood and energy levels\u2014noting that too little sleep negatively affects every area of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/diabetes-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including how much and what types of foods you eat, insulin response, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/mental-health-stigma-how-to-overcome-it\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mental health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"athletic-performance\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athletic performance<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32005349\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies show<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that when athletes do not get adequate sleep, there is a negative effect on physical and mental performance, risk of injury (and recovery), and medical and mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, when they do get enough quality sleep, athletes have improved strength, speed, reaction time, cognitive performance, and mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"helps-inflammation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps inflammation<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niehs.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/conditions\/inflammation\/index.cfm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can contribute to many conditions, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autoimmune diseases such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/living-with-rheumatoid-arthritis\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rheumatoid arthritis<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ibd-vs-ibs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammatory bowel disease<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/asthma-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asthma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other lung conditions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression and other mental health conditions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/parkinsons-symptoms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain types of cancer<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/sleep\/how-sleep-deprivation-can-cause-inflammation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">associated with inflammation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and experts note that getting enough quality <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountsinai.org\/about\/newsroom\/2022\/a-consistent-lack-of-sleep-negatively-impacts-immune-stem-cells-increasing-risk-of-inflammatory-disorders-and-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep reduces inflammation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Studies note the \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">importance of adults consistently sleeping seven to eight hours a day to help prevent inflammation and disease, especially for those with underlying medical conditions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"mental-health-and-sleep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health and sleep<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Institutes of Health (NIH) <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep-deprivation\/health-effects\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reports<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that people who do not get enough sleep have trouble controlling emotions and behavior. Sleep deficiency is linked to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiapsychiatry.org\/news\/how-sleep-deprivation-affects-your-mental-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, depression, suicide, and risky behavior. Children and teenagers who do not get enough sleep may have difficulty getting along with their peers, feel angry or impulsive, have mood swings, and feel sad or depressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/mental-health\/depression-and-sleep#references-177797\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40% of people<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who have insomnia (trouble sleeping) experience depression\u2014and up to 80% of people with depression experience insomnia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/Blogs\/NAMI-Blog\/January-2018\/5-Sleep-Tips-that-Can-Help-with-Depression\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Alliance on Mental Illness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (NAMI) recommends that \u201ceveryone experiencing depression should work to improve and regulate their sleep because there are only benefits to be had.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And researchers at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.berkeley.edu\/2019\/11\/04\/deep-sleep-can-rewire-the-anxious-brain\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UC Berkeley<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that deep sleep can decrease anxiety overnight. They stress the importance of getting deep sleep every night as a natural remedy for anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sleep-and-productivity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep and productivity<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although you may be reluctant to stop working or checking tasks off your list to get some zzz\u2019s, sleep is actually essential for productivity. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep-deprivation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NIH<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reports that sleep deficiency has played a role in human errors linked to major tragic accidents such as plane crashes and nuclear reactor meltdowns, noting that research shows that getting enough quality sleep (remember quantity <\/span><b>and<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> quality!) is \u201cvital for mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professors at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.mit.edu\/2019\/better-sleep-better-grades-1001\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MIT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that better sleep habits (consistency, quality, and quantity) were associated with better grades. They concluded that this study was a \u201cstrong indication\u201d that sleep \u201creally, really matters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Chronobiology and Sleep Institute at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine reports that researchers have found that sleep helps students perform well, learn, memorize, retain, recall, and apply knowledge to solve problems creatively\u2014and all of these help test scores, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-improve-sleep-quality\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to improve sleep quality<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-sleep-better\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep hygiene<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you sleep better. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdc.gov\/niosh-science-blog\/2020\/06\/29\/sleep-hwd\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CDC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers some helpful tips on getting quality sleep:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Go to sleep and wake up at about the same time every day, even on weekends.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the bedroom cool (experts recommend 65 degrees), dark, quiet, and relaxing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep electronic devices out of the bedroom\u2014not only the TV and computer but smartphones too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take some time to relax before bed. Establish a routine like taking a shower and reading, then get in bed when you are tired and ready to nod off.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise during the day. Ask your healthcare provider about safe and appropriate exercise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening, and avoid alcohol at night.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid smoking and vaping.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t eat large meals late at night. Doing so can cause heartburn and increase blood sugar levels while you sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you nap, nap early. Napping after 3:00 p.m. can affect your nighttime sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-bottom-line-why-do-we-sleep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bottom line\u2014why do we sleep?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep is not just a pleasant time to relax and unwind, it\u2019s absolutely necessary for your body to recover and get stronger physically and mentally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not getting enough sleep, in terms of both quality and quantity, can affect your health in many ways, increasing the risk for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making the effort to consistently get a good night\u2019s rest with the right amount of quality sleep can work wonders for both your mental and physical health. What steps can you take today to improve your sleep quality and your overall health?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many, the best part of the day is getting into bed for a good night\u2019s sleep. Some people even think of sleep as a guilty pleasure. The good news, though, is that sleep is not a luxury\u2014it\u2019s a necessity. Getting enough sleep, in terms of both quantity and quality, is important for the body. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133,"featured_media":60831,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[816],"coauthors":[10668],"class_list":["post-60830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-sleep","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why is sleep important? | SingleCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover why sleep is vital for a healthy life by exploring the benefits of sleep. 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