Sleep your way to the top! Or why sleep is so important for health and happiness.

Sleep your way to the top! Or why sleep is so important for health and happiness.

By Dr. Happy 

When it comes to health and wellness most people think about diet and exercise…but what about sleep? 

In my humble opinion, diet and nutrition, as well as exercise and activity are important – but so too is sleep. In fact it's just as important but so often forgotten. 

Which is why I'm always banging on about the need for sleep; for all of us; for our children and for our fellow adults. 

Without sleep we don't function as well as we could; it's hard to be happy and healthy if we're literally sick and tired. 

And if you want more than just my opinion, then check out this article from PsychCentral…

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” ~Irish Proverb

Honestly answer the following questions:

Do you have to set your alarm in order to wake up in the morning?

Do you wake up your kids–before they would get up on their own–to be ready for school or camp?

Do people in your family wake up cranky and out of sorts?

Do you ever fall asleep watching TV, at the movies, or listening to a less than exciting lecture?

Do you or your kids crave sugary foods or caffeine in the afternoon because your energy is lagging?

WARNING! These are all possible signs of sleep deprivation.

No one in America seems to be getting enough sleep these days. Do you know that almost one-third of Americans report getting fewer than six hours of sleep a night? Recent studies estimate that fifty to seventy million Americans are chronically sleep deprived–serious enough to be labelled a public health epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although outbreaks like the swine flu get lots of attention, chronic sleep deprivation is frighteningly common, extremely dangerous and only seems to be getting worse.

What Sleep Loss Does to Adults

The long-term health effects of sleep loss are numerous and deadly, including diabetes, hypertension, weight gain, depression, heart attack and stroke. That’s not to mention the immediate effects like falling asleep behind the wheel of a car, on the job, or while taking care of children. As adults we know better but sometimes just do what we have to in order to get by. When it comes to our children, the stakes are even higher, and our responsibility is greater. In case you are not sure of just how many hours of sleep is considered healthy, check out this link to find out how much sleep you and your kids should be getting…

…keep reading the full article HERE