A good night's sleep is incredibly important for health. In fact, it is just as important as eating healthy and exercising. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? According to the National Sleep Foundation young adults (age 18-25 years) and adults (age 26-64 years) should receive 7 to 9 hours of sleep but not less than 6 hours or more than 10 hours (for adults) or 11 hours (for young adults). Older adults (65 years and older) should receive 7 to 8 hours of sleep but not less than 5 hours or more than 9 hours.

This pattern and hour which differ for different age groups have several benefits to one's body. The right amount of sleep not only gives you freshness and energy for a new day but also reduces several health risks.

While you sleep, your brain is hard at work forming the pathways necessary for learning and creating memories and new insights. Without enough sleep, you can't focus and pay attention or respond quickly. A lack of sleep may even cause mood problems. Growing evidence shows that a chronic lack of sleep can also increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infections.

To understand why sleep is important, think of your body like a factory that performs a number of vital functions. As you drift off to sleep, your body begins its night-shift work:

• Healing damaged cells
• Boosting your immune system
• Recovering from the day’s activities
• Recharging your heart and cardiovascular system for the next day.

If your body does not get the right amount of sleep due to work or any other reason it can affect your health in a number of ways.

• Feeling drowsy, irritable or sometimes depressed
• Struggling to take in new information at work, remembering things or making decisions
• Craving more unhealthy foods, which could cause weight gain1

If this starts to become a daily cycle night after night, it places a tremendous strain on your nervous system, body and overall health. So if you’re not sleeping well or aren’t feeling rested when you wake up in the morning, it’s important to talk to your doctor and ask if a sleep study is right for you.

The right amount of sleep is the key to healthy living.