What are the consequences of not sleeping properly?

Sleep is an act through which a person rests after all the activities they have done during the day. Sleep helps maintain health, regain energy, and allow the brain to rest.

Unfortunately, sometimes for different reasons a person fails to sleep properly and fulfill the hours of rest that their body needs, and that can affect the performance of a worker or student.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 25% of American adults believe that for 15 days a month they do not get the hours of sleep they need.

What are the consequences of not sleeping well?

To learn more about the importance of sleep, here we tell you what can happen in your body if you don't rest properly.

• You won't perform well in your daily activities

Lack of sleep can prevent you from concentrating and hinder your performance in your tasks, or if you are a student, it can make you not pay attention in class.

• Mood swings

Getting little sleep, especially in children and adolescents, can cause irritability and even feelings of sadness in more extreme cases.

• Heart diseases

Sleep helps lower blood pressure, so getting less hours of sleep can lead to high blood pressure. Over time, this can cause cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, etc.

• Growth problems in children

The growth hormone is produced during sleep, so when a child does not rest properly, it can affect their development.

How many hours should a person sleep?

Sleep is very important for a person's development at any stage of life. Here we tell you the amount of hours according to age.

• Babies 4-12 months old (between 12 and 16 hours).
• Children 1-2 years old (11 to 14 hours every 24 hours).
• Children 3-5 years old (10 to 13 hours a day).
• Children 6-12 years old (9 to 12 hours).
• Teenagers 13-18 years old (8 to 10 hours a day).
• Adults (7 hours or more per night).

How to achieve a good rest?

• Read or listen to relaxing music

If you can't sleep after lying down for more than 20 minutes, it is advised to leave your room and do an activity that helps you relax, such as reading or listening to calming music.

• Be mindful of your dinner

Eating a lot and a couple of hours before bed can prevent you from getting restful sleep. It is also advised to avoid alcohol, coffee, and smoking.

• Avoid napping in the afternoon

Taking naps during the day can make it difficult for you to sleep at night. If necessary, it is recommended that the nap does not last more than an hour.

• Clear your mind before bed

Before going to bed, it is ideal to set aside your worries so that you can achieve proper rest, as otherwise you may wake up during the early hours of the morning.