Sleep and Health

Abstract

Sleep is a core component of human physiology, supporting physical, mental, and emotional health. Unfortunately, insufficient sleep and insomnia are increasingly common problems both in the United States and around the world. Poor sleep is strongly associated with diabetes, obesity, and other cardiometabolic diseases. Pro-inflammatory states associated with disrupted sleep schedules and insufficient sleep are hypothesized as risk factors for cancer. Sleep disturbance impairs cognition and memory, increasing the likelihood of accidents and drowsy driving. Poor sleep is a common and exacerbating feature of many mental illnesses and may impair treatment response. Finally, the burden of insufficient sleep is calculated both in financial costs and increased mortality. Given this evidence, clinicians should recognize and treat disturbed sleep to decrease the risk of disease and improve overall quality of life.