Modern society as a whole is chronically sleep-deprived.  When we feel stressed, we shortchange sleep.  We stay up late trying to get more work done, or hoping to squeeze a few minutes of fun into a busy day.  Or, we wake up early to catch up on chores we didn’t do the evening before.

Sometimes, even if we do get to bed at a decent hour, our sleep isn’t restful.  We might have trouble trying to get to sleep, or difficulties staying asleep.  This is particularly challenging for shift workers, who need to be alert at different times depending on what day it is.

When we’re overstressed, sleep feels like a luxury, or worse, laziness.  But getting enough sleep is as important as getting enough to eat.

Symptoms of insufficient sleep

Most of us know what it’s like to feel tired or sleepy.  But there are other consequences from not getting enough sleep:

Difficulty paying attention

Headaches or migraines

Lack of appetite OR excessive appetite

Lowered self esteem

Reduced job performance, or falling grades in school

Recent studies have linked insufficient sleep to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.

In summary, not getting enough sleep is about more than “feeling a little tired the next day.”  It has negative long-term health consequences.  Also, it impairs your ability to think clearly and make sound decisions.

Get to sleep – it’s critical to good health

Our bodies repair themselves while we sleep.  For children, sufficient sleep is critical for healthy growth and development.  And for adults, quality sleep wards off health problems and provides us with a chance to recuperate from each day’s wear and tear.

Next week we’ll be sharing some tips on how to get good quality sleep.  But you can make some changes for the better right away.

Firstly, value sleep.  Set aside time to sleep and respect that time.

Secondly, if aches and pains are keeping you awake, or if stress is an ongoing concern, contact Sheppard Chiropractic Centre at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172 to schedule an appointment.  Regular chiropractic care can alleviate these problems and help you get a good night’s rest.