Sleep and exercise

Sleep is one of the most important factors affecting a persons health and fitness. The National Sleep Foundation states that sleep is a basic human need and is just as important for good health as diet and exercise.

You need to make sure that you are getting at least 8 hours uninterrupted sleep per night.
Having too little sleep increases what is known as 'sleep debt' and eventually your body will demand the debt to be paid back. Having too little sleep can cause your physical functions to become impaired, affecting reaction times and judgement.

Exercise can be used to promote a good nights sleep. Increasing physical activity tires you out so that your body requires more sleep. On the other hand sleep deprivation can also lead to weight gain simply because you are too tired to do any exercise.

If you're not getting a good nights sleep here are some other factors that can be affecting it;

• Caffeine - tea, coffee and some soft drinks all contain caffeine
• Alcohol - affects your sleeping patterns
• High stress levels
• Drugs - diet pills, decongestants and antidepressants