The unexpected benefits of normal sleep for the body: doctors have revealed the secrets

Good sleep is an essential part of human existence. We don't even think about it, but science has calculated that a person spends about a third of his or her life asleep, sleeping from 15 to 30 years, depending on how long he or she lives. Such interesting facts make us think that sleep is not a waste of time, but rather a very important process for the body.

For most people, 7 to 9 hours of good sleep per day is enough. If you regularly sleep less, you have an increased risk of disease. Why this is so and what are the benefits of good sleep, VeryWellHealth told with reference to Sanja Jelic, MD.

Healthy heart

During sleep, your blood pressure decreases, which gives your blood vessels and heart a rest. Lack of sleep can negatively affect the functioning of the cardiac system: scientists conducted an experiment that showed that both short and long periods of nightly sleep can cause cardiovascular disease. For heart health, you should rest 7-9 hours a day.

Blood sugar levels

Good sleep regulates metabolic processes in the body. For example, during a long, quiet rest, blood glucose levels gradually decrease, so if people with diabetes do not get enough sleep, they will not have time to regulate this.

This is confirmed by studies that have shown that reduced or disturbed sleep leads to a risk of diabetes progression.

Reduces stress

Sleep helps your body and brain relax. If you don't get enough sleep, your body produces more stress hormones. After an unproductive night's sleep, you may feel overly anxious or be prone to rushing into things. Experts have also shown that people with sleep disorders have a higher incidence of depression.

Reduced inflammation

During sleep, your immune system works: it detects harmful viruses and bacteria and destroys them. Even periodic sleep deprivation changes the functioning of immune cells. This is the conclusion of scientists.

Without proper protection, inflammation occurs in the body, which increases the risk of ulcers, heart disease, dementia, and more. So if you notice that you're getting sick more often, analyze whether you're getting enough sleep.

Improved memory and a clear mind

During sleep, your body may be resting, but your brain is processing the information it has received during the day, forming connections to events, sensory data, feelings, and memories. Deep sleep is very important for long-term memory.

Also, without enough sleep, it is difficult to keep details in mind, react quickly, concentrate, and perceive a large amount of new information. According to scientists, a constant lack of sleep leads to a decrease in some executive functions

Weight loss

Studies show that people who are constantly sleep deprived are more likely to be overweight or obese. This is due to the balance of hormones that affect appetite. When leptin and ghrelin are unbalanced in the body, your resistance to junk food temptation is significantly reduced. At the same time, if you're tired and not well rested, you're not able to exercise either. Hence the excess weight.

Restoring the body

Even if we think that everything is fine with our body during the day, in fact, it is exposed to negative environmental influences every minute and must recover at some point. During sleep, the body rests, but the body continues to work actively for itself.

When you sleep, your cells produce special proteins that help repair damage caused by stress, UV radiation, or other harmful factors.

Sporting achievements

If your life is connected to sports, getting enough sleep can improve your performance. A study involving basketball players showed that a long sleep improved the players' speed, accuracy, reaction time, and mental state.

If you play sports that require a lot of energy and endurance (swimming, wrestling, weightlifting, etc.), proper healthy rest will set you up for maximum performance.

As you can see, good rest is the key to a healthy, effective, and happy life. Despite the frantic rhythm and constant busyness, you shouldn't neglect sleep, as it will only harm your body and can lead to chronic fatigue and disease.