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How much sleep to be getting a night and tips to improve your sleep NOW. Sleep happens to be pretty important. Unfortunately, it’s more important than most of us would like to admit.
Amanda Edell NASM CPT, ACSM CP | @bodybyamanda | bodybyamandanyc.com
To be getting a night and tips to improve your get NOW. Sleep happens to be pretty important. Unfortunately, it’s more important than most of us would like to admit.
The more studies come out showing the effects of our hyper-stimulated sleepless society in the modern day world, the more health problems we see linked back to lack of sleep.
According to John Hopkins University, people who sleep less than six hours of sleep a night are at higher risk for certain cancers and heart disease, have a weaker immune system and are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes.
(Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy-sleep/health-risks/the-effects-of-sleep-deprivation)
The amount of sleep the average adult should be aiming for in a given night is between 7–8 hours. When we sleep for 7–8 hours a night, we allow our bodies to tap into the appropriate amount of REM cycles (rapid eye movement).
REM cycles during sleep are essential in allowing our bodies to run at their most optimal levels on a day to day basis. Certain parts of our brain such as motor, memory and vision all increase when we tap into our REM cycles of sleep.
Certain parts of our brain such as motor, memory and vision all increase when we tap into our REM cycles of sleep.
When we skip out on sleep, not only do we feel lethargic and slow, but we also aren’t able to mentally perform our best. If you’re someone getting six hours or less of sleep a night, your levels of exhaustion will have a lower threshold.
Also, men who consistently sleep 5–6 hours a night will have a level of testosterone which is that similar to a man ten years his senior. So, hypothetically speaking, lack of sleep has the potential to age you by a decade. (Source: The Joe Rogan Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwaWilO_Pig)
When we consistently don’t get enough sleep our bodies are negatively affected. If you are someone looking to build muscle or lose weight, you won’t be doing yourself any favors by skipping out on your z’s.
So it’s pretty obvious that without enough sleep, the effects on our health, especially on our bodies, can be costly. The challenge then becomes changing your habits and implementing things in your everyday routine to help you sleep better at night.
Remember, consistency is key.