SATURDAY, Nov. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans aren't getting a solid seven hours of sleep a night, putting them at risk for diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
But it's the brain that needs a good night's sleep the most, according to Dr. Randall Wright, a neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital.
"When you are asleep, your brain catches up on tasks it can't do while you are navigating your day, such as cleaning out waste, saving new information, and filing away memories," Wright said in a hospital news release. "When you don't get enough sleep, the brain can't complete all of these tasks, and that can lead to memory problems and serious brain disease in the long run."
It might also cause the chronic conditions associated with lack of sleep, he said.
Wright offered three tips to help you get to sleep and stay asleep.
Developing good sleep habits is the best way to get the sleep you need and crave, Wright said. Sleep aids should be a last resort.
"While people don't usually become addicted to sleep aids, it is very easy to become dependent on them, which will lead to needing a higher dose every few months. And in the long run, those medications can begin to affect major organs and lead to other health issues," he warned.
More information
For more tips on better shut-eye, visit the National Sleep Foundation.