Does sleep effect our health

Scott Schwab:
On the surface this may seem like a no brainer. Of course sleep effects our health, but how? We recognize the effects of sleep most when we haven't had enough. However, what does our day to day health say about the amount of sleep we are getting? Honestly there are few areas to health that hold more weight than a good night sleep. Getting the proper amount is important, but it is also important to get the right type of sleep. What I mean by that is the depth to which you sleep. We all know that we go through sleep cycles. Throughout the night our bodies go in and out of REM sleep, which is Rapid Eye Movement.
I wont get into the stages and what they mean and whether you are actually dreaming or not. I will get into the fact that if we are not getting into our REM sleep we are not resting. Sleep is important to rejuvenate the brain and the body. Some things to avoid if possible; late night eating, watching T.V. Late, certain medications, being too active, caffeine. It is not that doing these activities are bad in themselves, but after a certain time our bodies are looking to sleep and we don't allow our bodies to rest.
In general our bodies are conditioned to sleep when the sun goes down and awaken when the sun comes up. Truthfully I am not necessarily saying to go to bed as soon as the sun is down and get up with the roosters, but find a pattern that works for you. Having good sleeping patterns can help you avoid stress, unexplained weight gain, anxiety, sickness, and fatigue. It is worth it to set a time and just shut everything off including your brain. Relax and let your brain slowly stops thinking about the stresses of the day. It is important to review your day and naturally see how productive you were.
A final suggestion is exercise. I know of no better way to release stresses and tension, than getting exercise. It will help you sleep better guaranteed. It is all about timing though. Don't plan on working out hard at night and expecting to get right to bed. Usually it takes the body more than an hour to fully relax after a hard work out. For additional reading head to the link provided above. I need to practice what I preach.