What if the cure for what ails you was as simple as going to sleep?


We spend a lot of time talking about how dangerous it is to skimp on that good quality shut-eye. Sometimes we ignore the flip side of that equation: Sleep can work wonders.


No, it won't cure cancer or save you from a heart attack (although it might help[1] ). But getting enough sleep may be just what you need to turn the corner when it comes to a number of health concerns. Check out a few problems sleep can improve below, then tell us why you make sleep a top priority in the comments.


Weight Gain

doughnuts

When we're well-rested, we don't have to rely on extra calories for extra energy. A small new study found that kids who sleep more consume fewer calories[2] , and well-rested adults choose smaller portion sizes[3] than their sleep-deprived peers.


People who get enough sleep may also make smarter choices about what foods to eat. One small study found that after a night of little sleep, people were more likely to crave high-calorie snacks and junk foods[4] than when they were well-rested.


Going to bed and getting up around the same time every day has even been linked with having lower body fat. In a recent study, researchers found that healthy young women who altered their sleep and wake times less than 60 minutes and slept between eight and eight-and-a-half hours each night had the lowest body fat[5] . All of this research may come back to the intricate relationship between sleep and the hormones that regulate hunger[6] .


Diabetes Risk

That tinkering that sleep-deprivation does to hunger and our cravings for sugary, fatty foods may be linked to another frightening risk of regularly getting too little sleep: Type 2 diabetes. A small 2012 study found that skimping on sleep significantly hinders how fat cells respond to insulin[7] , Health.com reported. In fact, after four nights of sleep deprivation, the participants' overall insulin sensitivity had dropped 16 percent, and their fat cells' insulin sensitivity had dropped by 30 percent, placing them in a range typically seen in people who are obese or who have diabetes. Getting adequate sleep may help mitigate this "metabolic aging"[8] .


Low Libido

low libido

Both men and women report feeling less interested in sex[9] when they're sleep-deprived, WebMD reported.


Not feeling in the mood isn't just an indication of being tired -- it may actually be hormonal: A number of small studies have investigated the link between sleep and testosterone in men, finding that lack of sleep decreases testosterone[10] , and that the overall sleep a man gets is a solid predictor of his testosterone levels in the morning[11] .


Slipping Memory

When we cut our sleep short, we limit the time spent in one of the most intriguing stages of sleep, rapid eye movement or REM sleep. The sleeping brain cycles in and out of REM sleep throughout the night, but the longest period of REM sleep occurs closer to wake-up time[12] . The bad news is REM sleep is the phase most closely linked to improved learning and memory[13] . Even just a quick nap seems to have a positive effect on memory[14] , learning, focus and alertness -- proof that just a little more sleep goes a long way.


Frequent Colds

blowing nose

Can't shake the sniffles? Instead of loading up on vitamin C (which may not do much good[15] anyway), consider hitting the hay: People who sleep eight hours or more are almost three times less likely to catch a cold[16] as people who sleep less than seven hours each night, according to a 2009 study.


Stroke Risk

It's not quite as simple as sleep more, avoid a stroke. However, a compelling 2012 study found that people who regularly get fewer than six hours of sleep a night have four times the risk of having stroke symptoms[17] , HuffPost reported, even among people who aren't overweight and who have no history of stroke.


Cancer Risk

The link between sleep and cancer risk is another complex relationship. A 2010 study found that among people screened for colorectal cancer, those who were diagnosed were more likely to average fewer than six hours of sleep a night[18] . And a 2012 study found that women with breast cancer who got six or fewer hours of sleep a night seem to have an increased risk of recurrence and more aggressive cancers[19] . "Effective intervention to increase duration of sleep and improve quality of sleep could be an under-appreciated avenue for reducing the risk," study researcher Dr. Li Li, M.D., Ph.D., said in a statement[20] .



Also on HuffPost:




Loading Slideshow...



  • You'll Look Prettier


    Sleeping beauty had this one right: regular shuteye alone actually makes you look prettier, according to a 2010 <a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6614.full?sid=f12d1b75-86cc-4bed-a06b-9ebc4f337b05" target="_hplink">study published in the <em>British Medical Journal</em></a>.

    The researchers took photos of 23 people after a normal night's sleep of eight hours and after a period of sleep deprivation. Then, a group of 65 people rated each set of photos for perceived health, attractiveness and tiredness. The sleep deprived group scored lower in all three categories.

    "We propose that sleep is a cheap and effective beauty treatment, both acutely and in the long-term," John Axelsson, <a href="http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/15/5644892-want-to-look-hotter-hit-the-sack" target="_hplink">lead researcher on the study, told MSNBC</a>. "Sleep should be seen as the body's natural beauty treatment and a clear alternative or complement to other beauty treatments."

    Sleep can also actually help to keep your skin in top condition. Over the long term, sleep deprivation can cause increased stress-related aging, a decreased ability to stay hydrated and a decreased ability to fight off environmental pollutants, <a href="http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/elizabeth-tanzi-md/my-1-skin-tip-beauty-sleep" target="_hplink">writes Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D. on DoctorOz.com</a>.

    "The most important thing you can do for your skin may be getting a great night's sleep," dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/08/image/ig-beautysleep8" target="_hplink">told the <em>Los Angeles Times</em></a>.




  • You'll Eat Less


    Both <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-michael-j-breus/sleep-weight-gain_b_1069409.html" target="_hplink">experts</a> and <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118111740.htm" target="_hplink">scientific data</a> have long connected lack of sleep with increased hunger and weight gain -- and now a recent study has quantified the phenomenon. The findings, presented last month at an American Heart Association meeting, suggest that otherwise healthy people may eat more than 500 additional calories a day when they're sleep deprived, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/sleeping-calories-eat-study_n_1345232.html" target="_hplink">the Huffington Post reported</a> when the study first came out.




  • You'll Make Better Decisions


    Stumped? You may want to sleep on it.

    A study published last year in the <em>Journal of Sleep Research</em> found that <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2011.00921.x/abstract;jsessionid=BE0DC54D65A3AC0DD9D825EF6AA4216B.d01t02" target="_hplink">people make smarter calls</a> after a good night's sleep. The researchers asked 54 young adults to play a card game aimed to imitate casino gambling. Those who were well-rested made decisions that resulted in greater winnings four times more often than those who were sleep deprived -- and they had a firmer grasp on the rules.

    "This provides support for what Mom and Dad have always advised," lead author and psychologist Rebecca Spencer, of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110607094849.htm" target="_hplink">said in a statement</a>. "There is something to be gained from taking a night to sleep on it when you're facing an important decision. We found that the fact that you slept makes your decisions better."




  • You Can Ease Bad Memories


    If you're sorting through a painful memory, try giving it a rest.

    One small study last year found that sleep might help to <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/retrieve/pii/S0960982211012486" target="_hplink">take the edge off difficult emotional experiences</a> that happen during your waking hours.

    "The dream stage of sleep, based on its unique neurochemical composition, provides us with a form of overnight therapy, a soothing balm that removes the sharp edges from the prior day's emotional experiences," senior author Matthew Walker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at UC Berkeley <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111123133346.htm" target="_hplink">said in a statement</a>.

    But remember we're talking a solid eight-hours of shuteye -- too much sleep may be a <a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/understanding.aspx" target="_hplink">sign of depression</a>.




  • You Could Learn Better


    You may be conditioned to think that the best way to learn is to stay up all night cramming, but the truth is that you'd be better off to get some sleep.

    <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/health/23iht-snsleep.1.8015084.html" target="_hplink">Several studies</a> have linked rest with increased performance on <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/a0025268" target="_hplink">learning-related tasks</a>, and now a new study has found that the timing of sleep may matter, too.

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/learning-ability-sleep-timing_n_1378271.html?ref=sleep" target="_hplink">The researchers</a> asked more than 200 people to memorize related words (such as "fire and smoke") and unrelated words (think: "insect and truth"). When later tested for recall, those who slept just after learning performed better than those who went a whole day before sleeping.




  • You Can Be More Organized


    Ever notice how you can read the same paragraph over and over again when you're tired, without ever really retaining anything? That same phenomenon can result in your home or work-space becoming cluttered, explains Robert Oexman, D.C., director of the <a href="http://www.sleeptolive.com" target="_hplink">Sleep to Live Institute</a> in Joplin, Mo. When humans are sleepy, they can lack the focus and drive to stay on task long enough to keep things orderly.

    "Sleep-deprived people can't focus very well," he told The Huffington Post. "A lot of things are cluttered in their lives and they find themselves less organized."




  • You'll Have A Better Sex Life


    It's the oldest excuse in the book: "Honey, I'm too tired." And while there's certainly some truth to being too exhausted to have sex, Oexman believes there's something deeper at work here. Chronic sleep deprivation can take a mental toll that affects how people perceive their own attractiveness and, in turn, sexual desire.

    "They don't just not feel like it," Oexman says. "They <em>really</em> don't feel like it. They don't feel good about themselves."




  • You'll Exercise Better


    Too wiped to hit the gym after work? The culprit may actually be your sleep habits, not the stress of your job. "Work should not wear you out," Oexman says -- you may be mentally exhausted, but, if you're working a desk job, you shouldn't be physically exhausted, as well. So if you feel like you just can't do it, consider upping your hours of shuteye each night.

    Added bonus: sleep can actually be a boon to your athletic ability. One study published last year found a correlation between increased sleep and improved performance in elite college basketball players.

    "Intuitively many players and coaches know that rest and sleep are important, but it is often the first to be sacrificed," <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110701083506.htm" target="_hplink">study author Cheri Mah</a> said in a statement. "Healthy and adequate sleep hasn't had the same focus as other areas of training for peak performance."

    Some research also suggests that regular rest can aid with muscle memory, Oexman says, which helps you learn how to do all kinds of new tasks, like perfecting your golf swing.




  • You'll Be Easier To Get Along With


    We all know a bad night's sleep can make us grumpy. And over time, that can take a real toll on your personality.

    "People who don't sleep well tend to over-escalate a problem," Oexman says. In fact, one study even found that <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110615015141.htm" target="_hplink">sleep deprived people could be more likely to blame other people</a> and plan revenge against them.

    "Sleepier people seem to engage in counterfactual thinking that is more dissatisfied and perhaps more selfish," study author David Mastin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110615015141.htm" target="_hplink">said in a statement</a>. "It may be that the sleepier you are, the more likely your musings are to be angry thoughts about how others could have done better."

    So if you can't stop thinking how everyone else is to blame, you might want to pause to consider how many hours you've been clocking in bed each night.




  • Your Immunity Will Be Boosted


    It's pretty much common sense that if you're rundown or exhausted, you'll be more susceptible to picking up a bad cold. But a recent study helped to explain that link further. As The Huffington Post reported <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/circadian-rhythms-immunity-immune-system_n_1281654.html" target="_hplink">when the findings were released</a>:

    <blockquote>Researchers found that the body's circadian clock controls an essential immune system gene in mice -- a gene that helps the body ward off bacteria and viruses.

    "People intuitively know that when their sleep patterns are disturbed, they are more likely to get sick," study author Erol Fikrig, professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine, said in a press release. "It does appear that disruptions of the circadian clock influence our susceptibility to pathogens."</blockquote>




  • Related Video