Getting Your Beauty Sleep: 4 Beauty and Health Benefits of Sleeping

If you see enough Sleep Number or Tempur-pedic commercials or advertisements, you may think sleep is easy to come by. But, thousands of people suffer from not getting enough rest and their health is directly affected. Whether you are lacking sleep because you’re suffering with a sleep disorder like sleep apnea or insomnia, or you simply are so busy you can’t make the time to hit the mattress earlier each night, it’s important for you to have healthy sleep habits.
Check out these health and beauty benefits to getting more sleep to see exactly why improving your sleep habits should be a major priority!

1. Poor Sleep Linked to Heart and Cancer
   Poor sleep habits have been directly linked to many heart conditions, like heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and stroke. Doctors state the heart needs at least 7 to 9 hours a sleep each night, for optimal function. In addition, many researchers believe there is a link between people with low levels of melatonin and cancer. In many studies, melatonin has shown the ability to suppress tumor growth. So, not only should you be sure you get enough sleep, but also be sure you don’t sleep with the television or a light on, as melatonin needs darkness to be able to effectively be reproduced each evening.
   
   
2. Better Sleep, Less Stress, Less Wrinkles and Signs of Aging
   A body that’s not getting enough sleep is a body under extreme physical stress. When you are lacking sleep, your blood pressure rises, your stress hormones go into overdrive and you are at a higher risk for many medical conditions.  High blood pressure on a regular basis ages your arteries.  Stress itself can cause wrinkles and other outer beauty consequences that could make you look older than you really are. With more sleep, you have more energy and be ready to face the day with a positive attitude, when you’re well rested.
   
3. Rest Is Great For Your Skin
   Sure, you’ve seen the ladies with the terribly unattractive dark circles and bags under their eyes. However, you may not link those unsightly beauty problems to sleep habits. Sleep is extremely important for your body and your skin because when you sleep your body is able to repair any damage it has endured. Skin damage done by stress, ultraviolet rays or other things can often be repaired and protein to help improve cell growth is produced. By getting enough sleep, you’ll be helping your skin naturally look radiant and gorgeous!
   
4. Getting Proper Sleep Lower Your Depression Risk
   With today’s lifestyles being hectic and stressful, many more people are suffering from depression. However, many studies are showing sleep might be able to help you ward off depression. Sleep can affect brain chemicals like serotonin, which is directly linked to depression. To be sure you are setting yourself up for the best chance to always feel your best, stick to a regular sleep routine and ensure you’re getting at least 7 hours of REM sleep each evening.

While the benefits of better sleep might seem obvious, many people still suffer from increased waking at all hours, bad dreams or snoring conditions. These things can certainly make it difficult for even the most exhausted person to get great sleep. If this is the case for you, be sure you talk to your doctor about how you can improve your sleep habits. Perhaps it will simply mean cutting out caffeine after 3 in the afternoon, trying a different sleeping posture or sticking to a stricter sleep routine. If you think you wake up more than the average person or have trouble falling asleep, your doctor might be able to help you find a successful solution!