Get Better in Bed

Sleep is something that most people take for granted. It is the one thing that people are willing to compromise even more than food or money. It is estimated that between 40 to 60 million Americans are sleep deprived. Different people can get by with different amounts of sleep, but the average person actually needs anywhere from between 7-9 hours a night. Why does one need sleep? When human bodies do not get enough sleep they tend to lose strength, the immune system decreases, and there is an increase in blood pressure. Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, says that the best thing for your body is consistency. This can be fulfilled by simply going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every day. But, it is important to note that making up for lost sleep on the weekends is a big negative. It is preferable that if one likes to sleep on the weekends wake up at the same time Saturday and Sunday. As you sleep through the night, your body produces a "hum," vibration, or waves during the delta wave sleep. Scientist are not sure how, but this event causes organs to manufacture vital hormones, during the next phase in your sleep cycle, your body mobilizes those hormones. Not having a good night sleep will restrict your body from producing human growth hormone (HGH) and other natural hormones, like thyroxin (that makes you lean). Consistency is the key to all things healthy, including sleep. A sufficient amount of sleep, can make you less prone to injury, have more cognitive functioning and decrease your appetite. Get some sleep tonight. References Sleep and Wakefulness: Nathaniel Kleitman. (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, and Cambridge University Press, 1939. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 21:370-371. J., E. (1940).