Sleep Away Those Yucky Feelings!

By: Megan Zbyczik
Did you know that we are getting 20% less sleep than we did 100 years ago? According to sleep experts, stress is the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties. Common triggers include school or job related pressures, a family or marriage problem and serious illness or health issues in the family.
Usually the sleep problem disappears when the stressful situation passes. However, if short-term sleep problems such as insomnia aren't managed properly from the beginning, they can persist long after the original stress has passed.
Drinking alcohol or beverages containing caffeine in the afternoon or evening, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular morning and nighttime schedule, and working or doing other mentally intense activities right before or after getting into bed can disrupt sleep. Not to mention they take a toll on our bodies’ ability to handle stress.
When your body is sleep deficient, it goes into a state of stress. The body's functions are put on high alert which causes an increase in blood pressure and production of stress hormones. Higher blood pressure increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes, and stress hormones make it harder for you to sleep.
People who suffer from sleep disorders may also end up suffering from the following:
• Hypertension and elevated cardiovascular risks (MI/ stroke)
• Emotional disorders (depression/bipolar disorder)
• Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes
• Alcohol and drug abuse
While we sleep, our body uses that time to repair and fix daily damage. Our cells produce protein needed for muscle and tissue repair, as well as damage caused by stress, UV rays, and other harmful exposures. Getting enough sleep every night also has been shown to improve memory, aid in weight loss, and reduce the chance of developing depression. So get that seven to ten hours of sleep every night, and do your body good!