“No one questions the value of a good night’s sleep. Whether you are biologically programmed to sleep 4 hours, 10 hours, or, like most people, 7 or 8 hours a night, failure to get the amount of sleep you need can impair learning and memory, problem-solving ability, safety, emotional stability, immune defenses, cardiovascular health and even body weight.

Sleep-deprived people tend to be irritable, impatient, moody, unable to cope well with stress and too tired to do the things they enjoy. Their appetite-controlling hormones are disrupted and may lead to overeating and weight gain. Resulting daytime sleepiness can impair work performance and result in accidents.”

Jane E. Brody, The New York Times