We spend one third of our lives asleep! This time has an amazing effect on the other two thirds. The duration and quality of our sleep has an impact on our attention, energy, mood, body weight, perception, memory, thinking processes, reaction time, productivity, effectiveness, communication skills, inventiveness, safety and good health.

Is there any direct impact of sleep on our health?

Certainly yes. Sleep plays a key role in the various aspects of our healthy life. Therefore the sound sleep is very important for our health.

Some of the healthy features of the sleep are highlighted below:

• The blood flow to our muscles increases during the deep sleep, allowing the body to recover from the physical stresses of the day.
• Body temperature is turned down in deep sleep, thereby conserving energy.
• Metabolic activity is reduced while we sleep, providing an opportunity for tissue growth and repair.
• Natural immune-system modulators increase during sleep, hence modest loss of sleep reduces the body’s immune responses and your resistance to viral infection.
• You may get more colds, flus and respiratory tract infections when you do not get enough sleep.
• Intensive firing of neurons during deep sleep is thought to be responsible for aiding memory storage and retrieval as well as reorganizing and categorizing information.

Four restful nights sleep tips:

1. Regularize your sleep-wake patterns. Get up at the same time daily. Avoid naps unless they are regular. Try to sleep the same amount each night. Find the perfect amount of sleep time for you and stick with it.
2. Ritualize cues for good sleep. Keep the environment quiet, dark, cool and safe for sleeping. Go to bed only when you’re sleepy.
3. Relax. Find ways to reduce stress and control tension. Learn some relaxation techniques.
4. Resist behaviours that interfere with sleep: keep away from alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. Avoid strenuous exercise within three hours of bedtime. And avoid heavy meals before bed.