Proper sleep is important for many reasons. Not only does it support your physical, mental and emotional health, it also improves your ability to function from day to day and enables you to have a fuller life. While you sleep, your body works to repair and rejuvenate all bodily systems so you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. Short term, lack of proper sleep can lead to poor judgment, mood swings, memory problems and cognitive dysfunction, and it can also negatively affect your work and home life. Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to many health issues like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and much more. Inadequate sleep can also weaken your immune response and leave you more susceptible to colds and flu.

Because our immune system produces protective antibodies and infection-fighting cells to fight off any foreign bacteria and viruses, all while we’re asleep. Sleep problems are becoming much more prevalent, with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimating 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic long-term sleep disorders each year. There are over 70 diagnosed sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy, and it’s important to see a physician should you be suffering from sleep problems. If you’re a poor sleeper, there are many things you can do to try to drift off easier. Ensure you undertake good sleep hygiene habits like avoiding caffeine and other stimulants close to bedtime, getting up and going to bed at the same time each day to help ‘set’ your body clock