The Truth About Sleep

Sleep and Health

Several physiological functions are strongly affected by insufficient sleep:
 

• The regulation of the neurohormones leptin and ghrelin
• The control of glucose level, increasing children’s risk of diabetes
• The control of cardiovascular function

It has been found that not getting enough sleep is related to the development of childhood obesity. Children whose parents have weight problems have a much greater chance of developing weight problems themselves. This could be the result of genetics or of having learned poor eating habits from their parents. Like eating habits, sleep habits are closely related to a family’s lifestyle, and it has been shown that many children sleep less than they need. This is important because short sleep duration produces hormonal changes comparable to those associated with increased risks of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

Sleep and Social Environment

The consequences of poor sleep may be long term. Just as nutrition and exercise must be included in healthy lifestyle choices, sleep habits must also be considered in this balance. This requires prioritizing our sleep needs within school, family, and community settings. When choosing how to balance our cultural and personal commitments with our sleep requirements, it is helpful to remember that sleep is an important factor for performing at our best physically, mentally, and emotionally. When we put off sleep to study or to practice a skill, we may actually be preventing our mind from absorbing the information we want it to retain or our bodies from developing as we had hoped.

Another factor to be considered with evening activities is how much they stimulate. Although physical activity during the day is healthy for sleep, our bodies need time to cool down after exercise. Similarly, our minds need time to settle down after activities that require deep concentration. In addition, the stress of performing well, whether it be in an organized activity or a social context, may keep us from falling asleep easily if it occurs too close to bedtime.