Sleep is so elusive to some of us, yet so essential to a productive, healthy day. Experts recommend getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night — and for good reason!
Sleep can strengthen your heart. Lack of Zzz’s can cause your body to release the stress hormone cortisol, which triggers your heart to work 10 times harder.
Sleep can also boost your immune system because while your head is on that pillow, your immune cells and proteins rest. Then, they’ll be at the ready when it comes time for fighting off a cold or flu. Moreover, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that proper sleep can make vaccines more effective.
Now that we know how important sleep is, how do we recover when we’ve gotten zero of it?