The Negative Effects of Poor Sleep

Did you know that not getting enough good-quality sleep increases your chances of developing chronic illnesses? Not giving your body the time it needs to truly rest and repair itself can also reduce your ability to heal from illness, dampen your sex drive, and decrease your ability to learn, reason, concentrate, and problem-solve. Chronic sleep loss places you at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, and diabetes—that makes you want to pay more attention to your sleep patterns, doesn’t it? Many people think they’re getting enough sleep if they go to bed on time every night, but if something is interfering with your sleep, such as sleep apnea or a poor sleeping environment, you could still be depriving your body of the rest it needs. A lack of focus, difficulty concentrating, irritability, quickness to anger, fatigue, and memory loss could all be signs telling you that your body is craving proper rest—so what can you do to help your body get the rest it needs? Read more…