Cosmetic Surgery Blog

We’ve all done it…we’ve either stayed out partying way too long, or maybe innocently had a restless night tossing and turning, or simply didn’t have the time to get the rest we really needed because of a busy schedule. Regardless, I am sure we have all had a sleepless night or two. And how did we look the next day? Pretty awful, right?

When we aren’t well-rested it can take a huge toll on our bodies, whether it is simply dark circles and blood shot eyes or a more serious issue. The human body cannot do very well, for very long, without proper sleep. A few restless nights won’t kill you, but prolonged lack of sleep can affect our health, appearance and emotional state. We sleep for a reason!

Five Good Reasons To Get Your Beauty Sleep

1. Entering a period of Deep Sleep allows your mind and body to “reboot”. Stress levels are managed more effectively and your every day problem-solving capabilities are more efficient.
2. Sleeping lowers Cortisol levels which in turn contributes to mood regulation and better health overall.
3. Growth hormones are released during the Deep Sleep period which assists in normal weight regulation, and cellular repair.
4. Lack of sleep hastens the aging process. Although you may have heard that 8 hours is essential, the amount of sleep needed is as individual as you are. Not everyone will need 6-8, and still others will need more.
5. Immunity regulation. Without sleep, your body becomes “run down” so to speak and unable to defend itself from normal intruders such as the common cold, or worse! Getting adequate sleep can keep you healthy.

One of the first signs of inadequate sleep is normally plastered right on our faces: red eyes, puffiness, dark circles, dry, scaly skin, even acne! When you don’t get enough sleep, it throws off your hormones and affects all of the above. When you get very little sleep, your Cortisol levels rise and your body is in a constant state of stress. Overtime, lack of sleep can contribute greatly to premature aging and very serious health problems.

Additional Ways to Keep Cortisol Levels Down

1. Exercise! Even a brisk walk down your street can assist in normal Cortisol management. Stay active; it will help you sleep at night as well, just not right before bed.
2. A Proper Diet. Eating properly can improve your health overall, and improve Cortisol Management. A diet rich in anti-oxidants can improve your physical appearance and health over all.
3. Keep caffeine and nicotine consumption to a minimum. It is best not to smoke at all, but stimulants such as these can significantly reduce your ability to sleep and regulate Cortisol.
4. Keep alcoholic beverage consumption to a minimum. Although doctors advise 4 oz of red wine can improve your health (it helps me sleep as well!), over-consumption has a very negative effect.
5. Lead a Drama-free Lifestyle: Seriously. If something stresses you out, either change that aspect of your life and remove it from your life, or learn to handle the stress so that it cannot affect you. Stress is very harmful to your physical and mental heath, we well as your appearance.

It’s the age-old cliché, eat, drink and be merry—just don’t forget your sleep and don’t overeat or over drink! How do you help yourself sleep at night? How much do you need? Do you need a certain pillow, certain music, a white noise machine? Do you have any before-bedtime-rituals to relax you? How do you help yourself obtain your 8 hours?