We all know a bad night sleep can leave us feeling grumpy, but not getting enough can also impact our mental health.
Not only is a full eight hours vital for optimal physical health, it's also important for our brains - and emotions. As World Sleep Day falls today, experts want to spread the awareness of the "devastating" consequences of a poor night's kip.
According to Colin Espie, Professor of Sleep Medicine at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford, not getting enough sleep can lead to depression and even raise risks of contracting serious health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
Prof. Espie explained: "Of course, it's not just sleep that matters. No-one likes a broken night because it is such a terrible experience.
"It is the consequences of poor sleep that can be devastating for people. Depression for example is twice as likely to develop in people who have insomnia and poor sleep is a risk factor for physical health problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
"We need to place sleep alongside diet and exercise as one of the pillars of health. This has important implications for health service funding priorities."
The academic highlighted that maintaining good sleep hygiene takes more than just going to bed on time. There are a certain set of principles that we should live by to help us sleep and feel better.
"My 'five principles' of good sleep health are that we should value, prioritise, personalise, trust and protect our sleep," he added. "It's not just about limiting caffeine and having comfy beds, we need to place good sleep at the centre of our lives.
"Sleep is nature's primary provision for our physical, emotional and cognitive health, so, if we don't have good nights, we don't generally enjoy good days."
The NHS recommends that adults get an average of seven to nine hours of sleep a night. But new research suggests that when it comes to good shut eye quality is more important than quantity.
If you're having restless nights, a sleep expert previously shared their top tips to help you doze off in two minutes.
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