SLEEP THE FORGOTTEN KEY TO GOOD HEALTH

           THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

Sleep is an act during which voluntary functions are suspended and the body rest and restores itself. Sleep is very essential to a good health, body, mind and mood, it nourishes and energizes the body, when you sleep you awake feeling refreshed, recuperated and ready for the days activities, too little or too much of sleep has been linked to a host of health problems, like obesity, heart diseases, dementia, diabetes and many others.
When the body does not get enough of sleep, it has a negative impact on the total man, the body becomes sluggish, having physical wreck, mental disturbances, headaches and social imbalance, if you have problem sleeping, it will have a negative effect on your metabolism.
Insomnia and other sleep disorders are very common problems in our today world especially in the urban cities where hustling and bustling have become part of every days life

             Three kinds OF SLEEP
Natural sleep – This is in accordance with the usual course of nature, and some are well endowed with this, while many suffer from insomnia which constitute a health hazard when it becomes an habit 

Induced sleep – This is forced or hasten to sleep through medical intervention e.g. sleeping tablets and injections for operations

Permanent sleep – This is death and it is the end of life, this can happen if the body is constantly denied of the pleasure of natural sleep which can develop into divers sicknesses like blood pressure, hypertension, severe headache etc.

        How much SLEEP do you need?

The amount of sleep varies from individual to individual, seven to eight hours of sleep every night is adequate for most people and some however do well with four to five hours because their sleep is deeper and more refreshing, though it is a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation.
It has been proved that sleep hour diminishes with age
SLEEP TABLE
Newborn to 2 months old             12 – 18 hrs
3 month -1yr old                          14 – 15 hrs
1 – 3 yrs                                       12 – 14 hrs
3 – 5 yrs                                       11 – 13 hrs
5 – 12 yrs                                      10 – 11 hrs
12 – 18 yrs                                       8 – 10 hrs
Adult (18+)                                       7 – 8 hrs

                   Sleep deprivation

Mental tension is the most common cause and is brought about by worries, anxiety, overwork, over-excitement, anger and bitterness, over eating at night, going to bed hungry, and worrying about falling asleep is enough to keep one awake.
Sleeping pills are no remedy, because they lower the I.O, dull the brain and can be dangerous if taken continually and in excess.
Some of the side effects include indigestion, skin rashes, lowered resistance to infection, poor appetites, high blood pressure, kidney and liver problem plus mental confusion.
If you have problem sleeping, try this health tips to overcome
Do not eat late at night
Eat healthy diet and light meal hours before bed time
Do not exercise close to bed time
Eliminates as many stress as possible
Have a warm bath before bedtime