Known as the third pillar of health, along with exercise and nutrition — it is said that a typical nightly recommendation for an adult should be 7-8 hours.

If there is a sleep deprivation, it immediately affects your health and energy levels and hampers your ability to focus and causes stress.

Recently sleep researchers and corporate leaders came together at the Harvard University for the Medical School's Corporate Sleep Health Summit and gave a series of lively discussions about the impacts of poor sleep.

Causes stress
One of the main factors that lead to stress is the lack of sleep. Many believe that it is okay to sleep for 4-5 hours but according to several health studies, lack of sleep can actually trigger stress and make you feel dizzy and uncomfortable, cranky throughout the day.

Makes you gain weight
Are you surprised? Well many reports suggest that the lack of sleep can trigger weight gain and make you look wobbly with time. This is because lack of sleep also makes you feel hungry throughout the day and your body craves for comfort food to feel relaxed.

Taking small naps do not work
Small naps can actually make you feel more tired than those who sleep for about 7-8 hours. Short sleep makes you feel all the more tired and brings about stress and tension. Thus make sure that you are not taking too many mid naps throughout the day.

BDST: 1658 HRS, FEB- 29, 2016
Edited by: Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor