Reasons Why You Need to Get a Good Night's Sleep

When was the last time you found yourself drifting off in the middle of a long class lecture or meeting? According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2008 "Sleep in America" poll, 29% of participants reported becoming very sleepy or even falling asleep at work in the previous month alone.

Sleep can affect learning, stress, weight and much more.

"Nearly 50 million Americans chronically suffer from sleep problems and disorders that affect their careers, their personal relationships and safety on our roads," explains Darrel Drobnich of the National Sleep Foundation. Unfortunately, getting a good night's sleep is not a priority for many of these individuals. The foundation's reports also found that approximately 63% of respondents simply accept sleep deprivation as a part of their life, while 32% turn to caffeinated drinks to combat their daytime sleepiness.

"Similar to diet and exercise, sleep needs to be an integral element of a healthy lifestyle. The impact of not getting good sleep is far reaching and has Americans compromising their productivity, safety, health and relationships – both on the job and at home," Drobnich suggests. Recent research has linked lack of sleep to a wide range of ailments, including memory problems and obesity. Learn more about some of the top reasons why you should get a good night's sleep.

Of course, knowing why you need to sleep isn't enough to solve the problem. If you struggle with sleep, there are a number of tips you can follow to improve both the amount and quality of sleep you get each night. About.com's Guide to Sleep Disorders, Brandon Peters, has some great tips on how to get a better night's sleep.

Related Reading:

• Stages of Sleep
• Theories of Sleep
• Sleep Disorders

_{Image courtesy Mayr}