You have probably had a night of no sleep and woke up cranky the next day unable to think correctly or perform some tasks normally. While sleep is an essential part of human nature, more than 60% of adults suffer from sleep deficiency. This, in truth, is a common problem in the United States, where 7-19 percent of adults are reported to have insufficient sleep due to various sleep disorders. While most people regard sleep as the total shut down of the body and mind, but this is not the case. Sleep is, in fact, an active period in which our minds undergo a period of restoration and strengthening to sustain even more pressure.
Sleep is vital for our optimal health and well-being. Sleep enables our minds to solidify and consolidate memories. During the day, our brains process loads of information but do not store them. During sleep, the information gathered during the day is processed in bits and transferred from short-term memory into long-term memory via a process known as consolidation. This makes us retain information and enhance our memory performance.
Sleep is also vital for the health of our bodies. During sleep, our bodies can restore and rejuvenate, synthesize hormones, grow muscles and repair damaged tissues or muscles. For people with autism, sufficient sleep combined with weighted blankets for autism alleviates stress and anxiety as well as sensory processing challenges allowing autistic people to lead healthy lives.
In essence, sleep is critical for everyone, and its benefits cannot be ignored. It plays a vital role in our health and well-being throughout our lives. Getting sufficient healthy sleep comes with numerous benefits, including physical and mental well-being as well as improves the quality of life and ensures personal safety. Tips for a healthy sleep are outlined in the infographic below.
