Getting only 6 hours of sleep each night for a week changes the activity of a whopping 711 genes. Considering we have about 20,000, this may not seem like much, but it took only 7 days of slightly-reduced sleep to produce this serious change.
When you don’t sleep enough, it’s the immune system that takes the biggest hit because the daily rhythm of the genes changes. You’re likely to get sick and not recover as quickly.
Stress from being ill and not meeting life’s demands further compromises sleep. The cycle begins.
The demands of work and family are endless, but get to bed so you can be a healthy, strong parent. Help your kids manage their time wisely so they get the sleep they need to be healthy, too.
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch.
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. Don't miss a thing!