Getting enough sleep at night has more benefits than just avoiding excess sleepiness when your alarm goes off. In addition to helping you power through your day, it is crucial for maintaining your immune system and helping your entire body function better.

Also, quality sleep is important for your mental health and can help you focus all day and even learn more efficiently. We love sleep!

Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team explains why you may need to sleep more below, so check it out.

What Does Sleep Do?

When we fall asleep each night, our bodies are actually working hard to rest and recover from the day and restore itself for the next day. As you sleep, your body cycles through a few stages of sleep that help you get the deep sleep you need while checking in with your systems all night long.

The first couple of stages of sleep are called NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. During these stages, your body starts to relax, your heart rate slows and your muscles relax as you fall into a light sleep. When you reach REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, you are sleeping deeply—it can be really hard to wake someone up from the cycle! Your brain activity spikes and dreams usually occur in this stage.

Why Sleep Matters

• Better memory
• More focused attention span
• Maintain a better mood and stress levels
• Better health

So How Much Sleep Do I Need?

Sleep needs vary by age. But for the majority of adults, getting at least seven hours of nighttime sleep is critical for your body. This can seem hard to accomplish if you have a busy job or little kids, but we promise that prioritizing sleep will only benefit you.

For children and teenagers, getting quality sleep is also important. For children ages 3 to 5, they should be getting at least 10 hours of sleep at night, and teenagers should aim for eight to 10 hours. Now, if that number sends you into a panic because you know that your teenagers are not getting that amount, it’s OK! Just do your best and try to reduce the stigma of an earlier bedtime, and they will be grateful for the extra sleep eventually.

Chronic Issues That Lack of Sleep Causes

• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Depression
• High blood pressure, or hypertension

We are always here for you. Stop by AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne for quality care today.