When it comes to sleep recommendations, it is advised that we get between seven and nine hours of sleep. Sleep is an important part of maintaining overall good health, as it helps build muscle, repair tissue, synthesize hormones, maintain a healthy weight, and improve memory.
It’s hard to get enough sleep nowadays, and unfortunately, many of us aren’t. This means we wake up tired and groggy, and our health may also be taking a hit.
Even if you are getting seven to nine hours a night, is this enough? What if you get less than seven hours? Your body has a way of letting you know whether your sleep habits are working for you.
4 Ways Your Body Reveals That You Need More Sleep
You catch colds and flu easily: When cold and flu season begins, are you the first to catch it? If so, this may be a sign that you are not getting enough sleep. Sleep helps you to maintain a healthy immune system, but when you don’t sleep enough, your immune system can become weaker, making you more prone to catching colds and flu.High blood pressure: If you are having difficulties reducing your blood pressure regardless if you have made the appropriate lifestyle changes, lack of sleep could be the cause. Not only does sleep deprivation lead to high blood pressure, but it can worsen already existing hypertension. This is because sleep regulates stress hormones, and without proper sleep, stress hormones can remain high and contribute to hypertension.
Poor skin health: Not getting enough sleep can make you look years older, as it causes your skin to age faster. This is because your body produces more stress hormones, which can trigger inflammation. Inflammation speeds up the breakdown of collagen, which is what makes skin look youthful and tight.
Weight gain: Having problems shedding a few pounds? Then start improving your sleep. Studies have shown sleep can improve metabolic function. When the metabolic function is poor, it contributes to weight gain. Therefore, the easiest way to start losing weight is to sleep more.
If you experience these four signs of sleep deprivation, then you will want to start improving your sleep in order to improve your overall health.
Devon Andre has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor in Canada and completed a juris doctor at the University of Pittsburgh. This article was originally published on Bel Marra Health.
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