Is it not healthy to get only 5-4 hours of sleep per night?

Physical Effects of Sleep Deprivation

According to the Washington Post not getting enough sleep increases an individual's risk of developing a number of illnesses. These include but are not limited to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. It appears that sleep deprivation decreases the function of an individual's immune system making her more susceptible to illnesses ranging from minor to major. An individual who does not get enough sleep at night may be at a higher risk for colon and breast cancer.

Mental Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation can affect the way an individual thinks, acts and performs normal activities. Sleep allows both the body and the brain to rest and heal. Without enough sleep the brain loses power and an individual will have problems with memory and concentration. Individuals who do not get enough sleep may experience emotional instability. Problem solving will be difficult and the ability to make a rational decision may be compromised. In some cases sleep deprivation can cause hallucinations.

Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain

In 2004 USA Today told of scientific research that had found that not getting enough sleep could actually lead to weight gain and contribute to obesity. Numerous studies have shown that when an individual does not get enough sleep he will have higher than normal levels of the hormone Gherlin. This hormone stimulates the appetite and makes an individual feel hungry. Individuals who are sleep deprived may also have low levels of the hormone leptin. This hormone allows an individual to feel satisfied and without it she will feel hungry. Combining an increased appetite with a decreased feeling of fullness leads to overeating, which in turn leads to obesity.

Read more: http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/da...

People who miss out on sleep are more likely to develop hardening of their arteries, the early symptoms that lead to heart disease, according to US researchers.

Calcified arteries were found in nearly a third of people who slept fewer than five hours a night.

This dropped to less than 1 in 10 for those who slept six hours, according to the study of study of 495 adults published in the Journal of the American Medical Association .

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/health/Lack+Of+Sleep+...

Women who sleep less than 7 hours each night may have a higher risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure). This finding was reported in the month of October 2007 in the journal Hypertension by researchers from http://stanford.wellsphere.com/heart-health-articl... Medical School in Coventry.

You should be getting twice the amount of sleep you are getting. 8-9 hours is recommended. The best way to get the right amount of sleep is to spend time relaxing around 9 or 10 pm and set and alarm for 7 am the following morning. Relax and wait until you fall asleep. It does not matter what time you fall asleep every night, your body will automatically shut down when it becomes tired. Reading is the best way to encourage sleep while relaxing. So, to recap, aim to be in bed by the same time every night, read, and you will naturally fall asleep. and get up at the same time EVERY morning. This is also important. This system should work well. If not, i would recommend a very mild sleeping pill called melatonin. It is all-natural, and is produced by your brain to begin with, and it is effective without doing harm.

You shpuld bet getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night. To get rid of bags ice your eyes when you get up in the morning it will reduce swelling. To help you get to sleep you can :

Bath- Try and warm bath to relax you,add some candles and some soft music in the back ground. Some people even use scented oils such as jasmine or lavender. This will help relax you, which should help you fall asleep.

The chillow- This is a new pillow that has recently hit the market. I will be getting one of these soon. This pillow is for the people who just love cold pillows. If you stay awake at night because you are always flipping your pillow then you should try one of these. This heavy duty enclosed pillow is filled with special gel, you add water to it to keep it cool. That's all you have to do. Keeping your head cool at night, will make you fall asleep faster and make you sleep better.

Schedule- Yes this not only works for children but works great for adults to. If your body is use to getting up at a certain time on the weekdays then do the same on the weekend. Going to bed at the same time at night is needed also.

Exercise- Yes its that word once again. Seems this word ends up in all the conversations. You need to give your body a reason to be tired. If you don't do any labor or anything to get your heart pumping then you wont feel the need to go to sleep. Just doing some brisk walking a few times a week will help you. Make sure what ever you do ends at least 3 hours before bed time.

Stress free- Often enough people lay awake thinking about one thing or another. Death, money or just plain worried can make you not sleep. If you have a journal write in it before bed time. If you don't have one I suggest getting one. Writing your thoughts down gets them off your chest and out of your head. If you start to think about it while your trying to sleep tell your self you wrote it down and not to think of it anymore.

if your under 18 you should really try and get 7-8 hours sleep, preferably 8. i know this isn't always possible but on a weekend morning a few hour lie in does wonders for your bags ;)

as for getting to sleep just have something that relaxes you, some calm music just calm down and don't drink any coffee or sugary drinks just before you go to bed.

there are also herbal sprays and stuff you can buy that relax you, that you can get at body shop or something.

No that's not safe, well if it's a one off it's not going to do much damage but... If you do that you will mess your body clock up and basically your sleeping pattern will be fooked. You will be very tired during the day etc but you will have the andrenalyn from not sleeping. Best thing to do though is to keep with your normal sleeping pattern.

It may not feel bad to you because you'll get a hyper rush during the day, but then you'll be extremely exhausted.

I do it too and I'm trying to fix that. Your body needs time to rest and recharge!

Stretching with music on helps me loosen up and sleep. Don't do anything strenuous before going to bed, like running. Also, I heard going on the computer right before doesn't help either.

That is really bad for you and it will have long term effects if you keep it up. You need to try and get close to 8 hours of sleep every night.

At least 8 hours. Try taking Melatonin. It is a natural sleep aide.

No hunny that's very unhealthy and can cause long term effects.

Sleep, is the best thing for you really. Sleep Keeps Your Heart Healthy. Lack of sleep has been associated with worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Your heart will be healthier if you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

Light exposure reduces the level of melatonin, a hormone that both makes us sleepy and is thought to protect against cancer. Melatonin appears to suppress the growth of tumors. Be sure that your bedroom is dark to help your body produce the melatonin it needs.

and sleep Reduces Stress

When your body is sleep deficient, it goes into a state of stress. The body's functions are put on high alert which causes an increase in blood pressure and a production of stress hormones. Higher blood pressure increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes.

*The stress hormones also, unfortunately, make it harder for you to sleep.*

Learn relaxation techniques to counter the effects of stress. There are also stress reduction techniques for sleep.

Sleep Reduces Inflammation

The increase in stress hormones raises the level of inflammation in your body, also creating more risk for heart-related conditions, as well as cancer and diabetes. Inflammation is thought to one of the causes of the deterioration of your body as you age.

Sleep Makes You More Alert

Of course, a good night's sleep makes you feel energized and alert the next day. Being engaged and active not only feels great, it increases your chances for another good night's sleep. When you wake up feeling refreshed, use that energy to get out into the daylight, do active things, and be engaged in your world. You'll sleep better the next night and increase your daily energy level.

Sleep Bolsters Your Memory

Researchers do not fully understand why we sleep and dream, but a process called memory consolidation occurs during sleep. While your body may be resting, your brain is busy processing your day, making connections between events, sensory input, feelings and memories. Your dreams and deep sleep are an important time for your brain to make memories and links. Getting more quality sleep will help you remember and process things better.

Sleep May Help You Lose Weight

Researchers have also found that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to be overweight or obese. It is thought that the lack of sleep impacts the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite. The hormones ghrelin and leptin, important for the regulation of appetite, have been found to be disrupted by lack of sleep. So if you are interested in controlling or losing weight, don't forget to pay attention to getting a good night's sleep.

Naps Make You Smarter

Napping during the day is not only an effective and refreshing alternative to caffeine, it can also protect your health and make you more productive. A study of 24,000 Greek adults showed that people who napped several times a week had a lower risk for dying from heart disease. People who nap at work have much lower levels of stress. Napping also improves memory, cognitive function and mood.

Sleep May Reduce Your Risk for Depression

Sleep impacts many of the chemicals in your body, including serotonin. People with a deficiency in serotonin are more likely to suffer from depression. You can help to prevent depression by making sure you are getting the right amount of sleep, between 8 and 9 hours each night.

Sleep Helps the Body Make Repairs

Sleep is a time for your body to repair damage caused by stress, ultraviolet rays and other harmful exposures. Your cells produce more protein while you are sleeping. These protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, allowing them to repair damage.

duhh its really bad to get 4-5 hours of sleep

thats why you look so drowsy and tired its really not attractive

try getting 7-8 hours of sleep

to fall asleep fast..........

go work out and get your body really tired