Sleep is essential for many brain and body processes that keep you healthy. Without enough high-quality sleep, you are more at risk for a variety of illnesses.

Benefits of sleep

Getting enough sleep helps you:

  • Have more energy
  • Rest important organs and tissues, such as your heart
  • Build muscle mass
  • Heal damaged cells and tissues
  • Maintain a healthy hormone balance
  • Boost your immune system and protect against illness
  • Learn new things
  • Reduce stress levels
  • Think more clearly
  • Form new memories

Health risks of poor sleep

When you sleep too little, or your sleep isn’t restorative, you have a higher chance of developing health conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, obesity, diabetes, anxiety, and depression.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Colleen Ehrnstrom's profile picture
Dr. Colleen Ehrnstrom, PhD

Dr. Colleen Ehrnstrom is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty practice in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Areas of expertise include insomnia and other sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Dr. Ehrnstrom is not a medical provider and is not providing any recommendations regarding medications. Rather, she is sharing and reviewing the research as it relates to education when learning how best to treat insomnia.

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