“Sleep is like the golden chain that binds our health and body together” – Thomas Dekker

Ever been called lazy because most times, your eyes are closed and you’re most likely in dreamland?. Yes, we may have all had that moment in our everyday life, probably due to people’s notion of what sleeping depicts…but in the real sense, we actually were gaining some things in those minutes of shut eye.

Getting enough sleep is essential for helping a person maintain optimal health and well-being. When it comes to their health, sleep is as vital as regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. Many people are unaware of how essential it is to get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.

Some important benefits of sleep are:

1) Greater athletic performance:

To all the athletes and lovers of sports, your sleep is very important. Accordingly, sleep is as important to athletes as consuming enough calories and nutrients.
One of the reasons for this requirement is that the body heals during sleep.

2) Good sleep can improve concentration and productivity:

Sleep is important for various aspects of brain function. This includes cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance. All of these are negatively affected by sleep deprivation.

3) Sleep improves your immune function:

Getting at least 8 hours of sleep can improve your immune function and help fight the common cold.

4) Good sleepers tend to eat fewer calories:

Poor sleep affects hormones that regulate appetite. Those who get adequate sleep tend to eat fewer calories than those who don’t. This includes higher levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite, and reduced levels of leptin, the hormone that suppresses appetite

5) Poor sleep is linked to higher body weight:

Poor sleep is strongly linked to weight gain.
People with short sleep duration tend to weigh significantly more than those who get adequate sleep. In fact, short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity.



Getting enough sleep isn’t only about total hours of sleep. It’s also important to get good-quality sleep on a regular schedule so you feel rested when you wake up.

If you often have trouble sleeping — or if you often still feel tired after sleeping — talk with your doctor.

How much sleep do children need?

Kids need even more sleep than adults:

-Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night
-School-aged children need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night
-Preschoolers need to sleep between 10 and 13 hours a day (including naps)
-Toddlers need to sleep between 11 and 14 hours a day (including naps)
-Babies need to sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day (including naps)
-Newborns need to sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day

Courtesy: Pharm Naomi

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