5 Reasons Why You Should Sleep In

Lauren Kurkowski

As a college student, I know what it feels like to pull an all-nighter. But what I don’t always realize is the huge impact a lack of sleep can have on my health. Yahoo’s article, “What Your Insomnia May Be Costing You,” is a wake-up call to sleep in longer. Here’re five things I learned:

#1: Going without sleep for one night can impair your brain as much as being legally drunk.

#2: Obesity and disrupted sleep are linked.

#3: Chronic sleep loss can hasten the onset of age related illnesses (such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and memory loss), as well as increase their severity.

#4: Sleep deprivation increases systemic inflammation, which contributes to heart disease, cancer, and a number of other health issues. The good news is that the same diet and exercise habits that reduce inflammation will also help you sleep.

#5: Lack of sleep significantly decreases immunity.

Check out the Franklin Institute and the National Sleep Foundation for information on sleep studies.