Why is sleep important?

You probably already knew that sleep is important. But did you also know that people who sleep 5 hours or less per night have a higher risk of several health problems as they get older?

A major new study provides evidence that people aged 50 and older who sleep five hours or less at night are at greater risk of developing multiple chronic diseases as they age, compared to peers who get longer nights of sleep.

Among those whose sleep was tracked at age 50, those who slept 5 hours or less per night were 30% more likely to develop multiple chronic diseases over time than those who slept at least 7 hours per night. At age 60, the risk was 32% and at age 70, the risk was 40% higher.

Diseases for which there was a higher risk were diabetes, leukemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, depression, dementia, mental disorders, Parkinson's and arthritis.

Another study has shown that sleep is a restorative process that includes producing and regulating hormones in the body, explains Adam Knowlden, an associate professor of health sciences at the University of Alabama. Hormones regulate things like appetite, metabolism, blood pressure and heart rate, body temperature and circadian rhythm. If the body does not produce enough hormones due to a lack of sleep, it would lead to chronic health problems in addition to things like fatigue, body aches and blood pressure problems. A lack of sleep can also lead to increased inflammation, the body's natural defense against infection or injury. Temporary inflammation works well to protect the body, but if it is chronic it can lead to multiple illnesses.

It is therefore very important to get at least 5 hours of sleep, but since more than 60% of the Dutch people sleep poorly, this is not feasible for everyone. So use these tips from us for a better night's sleep:

• Establish a consistent sleep schedule. Training your body to go to bed and get up at the same time every day will make it easier to get regular sleep.
• The bedroom should be dark, quiet and free of pets that can disturb sleep.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and large meals before bed.
• Daytime exercise can also lead to a better night's sleep.
• Take a natural sleep supplement, such as Sleep & Relax.

From data analysis of the night's sleep among our users, we see an average increase of 44% in REM sleep after a minimum of two weeks of consistent use of Sleep & Relax . Sleep & Relax is our own natural sleep aid that improves your deep & REM sleep. Getting the necessary deep sleep earlier, which revolves around your body's recovery, leaves more time for REM sleep.

Are you looking for a good and natural solution to significantly improve your night's sleep? Try Sleep & Relax now with our carefree 14-day money-back guarantee and enjoy discounts of up to 45% in subscription form in the month of December.

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