Until the 1950s, most people thought of sleep as a dormant part of our daily lives. Studies have found that our bodies are very active in sleep. Think of your body like a factory that performs a number of vital functions. As you sleep off, 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
The length of sleep we need depends on various factors, including age. Babies generally require 16 hours of sleep a day, while teenagers need about 9 hours of sleep a day. Most adults, 7 to 8 hours a night is best amount of sleep, although some people may need as few as 5 hours and some as much as 10 hours a day. Pregnant women often need more amount of sleep than usual.
Right amount of sleep is very important to the health and growth of our bodies.
