Importance of Sleep

Is it true that you should sleep for 8 hours daily?
(June 9, 2010)

Sleep is defined as an unconscious state(from which a person can be aroused), in which the brain is more responsive to internal stimuli than external stimuli. There are many benefits of sleeping well as sleep is essential to our lives. It affects our physical and mental health, and is essential for the health and wellbeing of our body. Deep and restful sleep helps the body to rejuvenate, restore, and regenerate itself. It is the time when our body lowers its energy requirements, the muscles are repaired and revitalized, and our mind memorizes the things we learnt during the day.


Getting peaceful sleep in the night is one of the keys to remain emotionally, mentally, and physically healthy.

Every individual’s sleeping needs differ. On an average, the human body needs eight hours of sleep. If you are continually sleep deprived you could be affected in the following ways:

• A lack of sleep will cause irritability and inability to make proper decisions. It can cause hallucinations or make you doze off during the day. You remain inactive and irritable throughout the day.

• Continued lack of sleep can cause depression, fatigue, lethargy, anxiety, and weight gain. It might result in severe immune system deficiency.

• Sleep deprivation makes aperson feel drowsy and irritable. For our nervous system to work efficiently, proper sleep in needed. It also leads to loss of memory or an inability to carry out physical activities efficiently.

• Children’s mental ability is restricted. They become more susceptible to infections.

• You might face memory and concentration problems.

• Sleep disorder can cause problems tothe brain and nervous system, cardiovascular system, metabolic functions, and immune system.

• Emotional well being, performance ability, and mental ability are all related to the amount of rest the body takes.

• Loss of sleep can cause many severe health disorders such as heart attack, diabetes, depression, and obesity.

• Dizziness, nausea, and irritability are common side effects of lack of sleep.

• Lack of sleep suppresses growth hormones and leads to higher levels of reaction to stress. Thus, asleep deprived person starts losing self-control.