National Sleep Awareness Week is March 1 to 8. Since it starts off the month of March, our team at AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga wants to remind you of how important it is to give your body the rest it needs in order to conquer the day!
How Much Sleep Should I Be Getting Each Night?
Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimal health. Older adults may be able to get by with slightly less, aiming for seven to eight hours, while teens and kids need more sleep. When your body is at rest, it is able to repair muscles and cells, as well as give your brain a break in order to better retain information, which is why sleep is so important for your memory. Therefore, when trying to fit everything in to your day, it is best to fix your schedule to where you don’t miss out on sleep.Benefits of Sleep
- Prevent cancer
- Reduce stress
- Lower inflammation
- Improve alertness
- Improve memory
- Help you lose weight
- Reduce risk of depression
How Is Sleep a Stress Reliever?
When you do not get an adequate amount of sleep at night, you are setting yourself up for not just a poor mood, but also a lack of motivation and feelings of being overwhelmed, which can lead to high stress. But by getting the sleep you need, you can wake up feeling refreshed, restored and ready to conquer the day! You’ll also be more likely to practice healthy lifestyle habits when you’re well-rested.Effects of Poor Sleep
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Obesity
- Depression
