We are all familiar with the importance of a good diet and exercise for maintaining good health. However, few people realise the importance of a good night's sleep in maintaining our health. In today's society many people complain of fatigue or being tired all the time. Although these symptoms may be an indication of a physical disease such as anaemia, or a mental health problem such as depression, they are often associated with inadequate sleep or perhaps some sort of sleep disorder.
At the turn of the 20th century most people averaged nine hours sleep daily, whereas today most of the adult population are lucky to average seven hours sleep a day. Insufficient sleep is associated with reduced physical and mental performance, and in some cases can be quite dangerous and may contribute to, or exacerbate some diseases such as asthma.
