Most people don't see the connection between a good night's sleep and improved breathing. However, even though you may spend eight hours in bed every night, respiratory problems like nocturnal asthma and sleep apnea can upset your regular sleeping patterns can keep you from getting the quality sleep you need. Over the past half century, research has shown that the amount of sleep you get every night is just as important as the quality.

Sleep has an effect on our entire beings, body and mind. While your body is resting at night from running around, working, and taking care of your household, your brain is still running strong. The wear and tear on the neuron connections in your brain are repaired and rebuilt, ensuring the brain's control on all of your bodily functions. People can have trouble concentrating, remembering things, or coordinating their bodies after missing just one night of good sleep, making stress and asthma worsen. Every year, billions of dollars are lost in America through bad productivity and accidents, according to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research.

The Right Amount of Sleep

Age is the main factor. 16 hours are needed by toddlers every day. At the other end of the spectrum, those over 65 only need about six to seven hours. Adults under 65 generally require between seven and eight hours, although different people could need more or less. Teens should attempt to get around nine hours of sleep, to help their still-growing bodies and minds.

In one night's rest, our bodies experience a sequence of sleep cycles, each of which that can range in duration from 90 to 110 minutes. Each sleep cycle is composed of five phases, starting with level one, light sleep, and progressing through advancing deeper, more quality levels. The fifth level is "rapid eye movement," or REM sleep. At this phase we start to dream. The durations of the deep sleep and REM sleep periods increase as the sleep cycle repeats itself all night long. These deep periods of sleep are the best for restoration, and people who don't sleep enough, or don't sleep soundly because of conditions like nocturnal asthma, can't take full advantage of these sleep periods.

Just like when you withdraw money you don't have from a bank account, missing out on sleep will create a sleep debt. You might get accustomed to running on a lack of sleep, but your body will not adapt to this routine. Research indicates our bodies don't get used to missing out on sleep, and they suffer through impaired judgment, slower reactions, difficulty with memory, and the body is more vulnerable to conditions, such as asthma.

As important as the everyday obligations that keep us from bed at night may be, sleep is just as important. The truth is that quality sleep can help your performance of activities during the day. You can't sacrifice sleep at night if you're worried about not having enough time during the day.