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6 Reasons Why You Should Prioritize Your Sleep
4) Accidents on the road
A lack of sleep is associated with a higher risk of being involved in a car accident. According to an analysis by the United States Traffic Safety Foundation, if you drive a car when you have slept less than five hours, you are 4.3 times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident. If you drive after only sleeping four hours, you are 11.5 times more likely to be involved in a car accident.
5) Hormonal health
A lack of sleep can affect growth in children and adolescents. Insufficient sleep may also affect fertility in men. According to a study published in 2013 in the American Journal of Epidemiology, men who do not sleep enough or who do not have enough quality sleep would have a sperm count of 29% less than those who regularly spend a good night’s sleep.
6) Sports performance
Insufficient sleep is associated with a decrease in athletic performance. Research indicates that a lack of sleep in athletes is associated with a lack of energy, poor post-workout recovery, a weakened immune system, increased risk of injury, and a lack of concentration during sports. A lack of sleep can also reduce the production of glycogen (which is the energy stores used during exercise) and muscle synthesis (building and repairing muscles).
References
- Chaput et coll. Durée et qualité du sommeil chez les Canadiens âgés de 18 à 79 ans. Statistique Canada, 20 Septembre 2017. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2017009/article/54857-fra.htm
- Hirshkowitz et coll. (2015) National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Journal of the National Sleep Foundation; 1(1): 40-43.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2018) Why Sleep Is Important. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/node/4605
- St-Onge et coll. (2016) Sleep Duration and Quality: Impact on Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation;134:e367-e386.
- Yin et coll. (2017) Relationship of Sleep Duration With All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. J Am Heart Assoc; 6(9): e005947.
- Tefft (2016) Acute Sleep Deprivation and Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash Involvement. AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety Report, 21 pages. http://newsroom.aaa.com/download/9799/
- Jensen et coll. (2013) Association of Sleep Disturbances With Reduced Semen Quality: A Cross-sectional Study Among 953 Healthy Young Danish Men. American Journal of Epidemiology; 177 (10):1027–1037.
- Halson (2014) Sleep in elite athletes and nutritional interventions to enhance sleep. Sports Med 44(S1): S13-23.
- Milewski et coll. (2014) Chronic lack of sleep is associated with increased sports injuries in adolescent athlete. J Pediatric Orthop 34(2): 129-33.
Author
Kathryn holds a Bachelor Degree in Nutrition as well as a Bachelor and a Master Degree in Kinesiology, all from Laval University. She is a Registered Dietitian and active member of the Ordre professionnel des Diététistes Nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ) and of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She holds the Monash University's certification for the FODMAP diet and IBS, and has considerable clinical experience in that area. She is also an accomplished athlete, having ran track and cross-country at a national level. Kathryn specializes in sports nutrition, weight loss, diabetes, as well as heart and gastrointestinal health.
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