Aayushi Sardana

http://psychology.about.com/

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

Monday November 30, 2009

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 in a press release. 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.

Summary: This article discusses the importance of sleep and how a lack of it can have an adverse effects. The correlation between sleep deprivation, memory problems and even obesity can't be ignored as a mere coincidence. Though many Americans have accepted sleep deprivation as a part of life they have forgotten that sleep is equally as important as eating healthy and maintaining a good weight.