Figure Skater Peggy Fleming Teams With HealthSaver: Healthy Sleep Tips for a New Y...( NORWALK Conn. March 4 /- Sleep is...),Health

NORWALK, Conn., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Sleep is as essential to our well- being as food and water, yet more than 25 percent of Americans do not get enough sleep, according to the U.S. Department of Health.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070125/NYTHFNS2 )

"Sleep keeps many essential body functions in order," said Peggy Fleming, Olympic figure skating champion and HealthSaver spokesperson. "Without proper sleep, the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression may increase."

Sleep allows your body and mind to receive the rest each requires. "One study found that sufficient sleep may even help fight cancer," said Brad Eggleston, vice president of HealthSaver. Read on to learn more about how you can get the most out of your night's sleep.

Sleep Smart

-- A lack of sleep can lead to serious health problems, not just daytime

drowsiness. The American Heart Association reports that adults who

sleep five hours or less each night nearly double their risk of high

blood pressure.

-- Insufficient sleep also disrupts mood. A study by the National

Institute of Mental Health found that sleep deprivation causes the

emotional centers of the brain to be 60 percent more reactive.

Without enough sleep, you may also become irritable, in part because

sleep deficit puts the body in a state of high alert.

-- Naps can be a great way to rejuvenate. But don't nap for more than 30

minutes, or you may disrupt your sleep-wake cycle.

Why We Sleep

-- Studies show that insufficient sleep decreases the body's ability to

manage blood sugar, increasing the risk of diabetes. Adults who sleep

less than seven hours each night are also more likely to be obese,

because of changes in appetite and the storage of carbohydrates.'/>"/>