How Does Sleep Affect Physical Health?

Sleep affects your physical health in myriad ways. A number of studies have analyzed the important relationship between sleep and physical health. These studies have found just how essential sleep is to our physical health, as our body needs adequate rest to function properly.

Want to learn more about all the correlation between sleep and physical health? Keep reading to understand the ways in which sleep affects our lives!

How Does Sleep Affect Your Physical Health?

When we don’t get proper sleep, our physical health suffers. According to the Cleveland Clinic, lack of sleep is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Not getting enough sleep can also exacerbate existing conditions, as the immune system is weakened by poor sleep.

Though we know that sleep is essential for optimal physical health, many struggle to get enough. According to a CDC report from 2016, 1 in 3 Americans reported that they don’t get enough sleep. That number is likely even higher now, as the coronavirus pandemic has been associated with poorer sleep.

Benefits of Sleep on Physical Health

It can be surprising to learn just how many ways sleep can improve our physical health. When we sleep, our bodies are repairing and restoring a number of systems, including the immune system and muscular system.

Sleep also allows your brain to consolidate memories, and is essential for your long-term memory. Sleep is also important for the cardiovascular system, as during rest heart rate and blood pressure rise and fall.

Lastly, your body releases hormones during sleep that help it repair itself and regulate its energy usage — these hormones help the body maintain a healthy weight.

Negative Effects of Sleep Deficiency

Sleep is necessary for so many processes that allow the body to function properly, so it makes sense that a lack of it can lead to serious negative health consequences. Sleep deprivation has been linked with life-threatening disorders, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression.

Take a look below at some of the short-term and long-term effects of sleep deprivation.

Sleep Deprivation and Physical Health

As seen above, sleep deprivation can lead to a number of negative physical health consequences. From weight gain to an impaired immune system, a lack of sleep is bad for the body. It can also lead to an increased risk of accidents, as the body’s response time is slowed and balance is impaired.

Though it may seem like prioritizing work or your social life over sleep isn’t a big deal, it can lead to serious health risks.

Sleep and Pain Relief

Best Mattresses for Arthritis and Joint Pain Relief

Falling asleep can be especially challenging if you struggle with arthritis and joint pain. That’s why we’ve put together a list of mattresses specifically for folks who struggle with these ailments. Although many factors inform the selection of a new bed — body weight, sleeping position, and personal preference, to name a few — we … Read more

8 Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain in 2024

Just because you’re experiencing back pain doesn’t mean you have to shell out thousands of dollars for a top-of-the-line mattress to replace it. Many turn to a topper as a more affordable alternative. The best mattress topper for back pain can provide the comfort and pressure relief you may need by making the bed firmer … Read more

Best Mattress for Sciatica 2024

Anyone who deals with sciatica knows that it can be a pain (literally) to fall asleep and stay asleep. The throbbing pain in the lumbar area, the shooting pain down the leg — none of it makes for a restful night. That’s why we’ve put together this roundup of the best mattresses for sciatica. And … Read more

Best Mattresses for Hip Pain Relief

Many people suffer from hip pain each day, and if you have hip pain, you know how hard it can be to get a comfortable night’s sleep. In fact, one study showed that 19.2% of older adults reported having regular hip pain. If you’re tired of the tossing and turning and waking up sore, it … Read more

Tips for Getting Better Sleep

If you want to keep your body functioning optimally, you’ll need to get sufficient and efficient sleep. Though it sounds simple, for many it can be a challenge.

Take a look below at some of our top tips for getting better sleep.

Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. This makes for an optimal sleep environment.
Don’t use your smartphone for at least 30 minutes before bed. The blue light emitted from devices keeps the mind awake.
Go to bed at the same time each night, and wake up at the same time each day. This will train your body to know when it’s time to rest.
Exercise on a regular basis (but not right before bedtime). Regular physical activity will help tire your body out and get it ready for rest.
Don’t consume caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime. You’ll want to stop drinking caffeine about four hours before bed, and alcohol at least two.
Only use your body for sleep and sex. This will help you associate your bed with these activities only.

You can find more tips and tricks in our detailed sleep hygiene guide.

Air Quality and Skin Health Sleep Resources

The Best Air Purifiers – Our Top 5 Picks

Pet dander, dust, and seasonal allergies don’t just make us cough and sneeze – they can also disrupt our precious sleep! If you need some relief from allergy symptoms, you may want to use an air purifier. But which one should you get? We’re here to help you figure that out! We tested some of … Read more

Should I Sleep with an Air Purifier On?

Getting high-quality, healthy sleep should be a priority for everyone. There are lots of ways to make a sleep environment conducive to great sleep, including using an air purifier in your bedroom. These devices remove allergens and contaminants from the air, leaving the air you breathe as clean as possible. But are there downsides to … Read more

What Sleep Deprivation Does to Your Skin

Sleep Deprivation and Skin Health You’ve likely heard many times over that you should aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night. Sleep is vital to our health and well-being. Without enough sleep, we can suffer short-term consequences like lowered immune response and brain fog, and long-term consequences including an increased likelihood … Read more

Can Opening The Bedroom Windows Improve Your Sleep?

Does fresh air lead to better sleep? There’s some evidence that air quality can play a role in the quality of our sleep, but it may not be as simple as cracking a window at night. We spoke with Dr. Carlea Weiss about the benefits and drawbacks of opening bedroom windows at night for sleep … Read more