Do you know that if you are not getting enough sleep you could be putting your health at risk? It's true. From the common cold to heart disease, sleep deprivation is bad for your health.

Many of us are living lives that don't allow much time for sleep. And even people with enough time to sleep, are often just too stressed to sleep. But when it comes to good health, sleep is just as important as eating healthy and getting enough exercise. Are you getting enough sleep? Do you know how much is enough?

Be as healthy as you can be...Try to make getting a good night's sleep part of your healthy living routine. If you get enough sleep you'll feel better, look better, and maybe even live longer.

From A Heart Healthy Goal For 2009...

Who would have thought that how we sleep would turn out to be a coronary artery risk factor every bit as important as smoking or high blood pressure? But that's how it is shaping up. The recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association is making the sleep-heart connection impossible to ignore: In short, as hours of sleep drop toward five or fewer from the eight hours most humans seem to need, the chance of developing coronary disease in young middle-aged men and women grows in close proportion.

From Hip Mama's Place...

Individuals who get less than seven hours of sleep per night appear about three times as likely to develop respiratory illness following exposure to a cold virus as those who sleep eight hours or more, according to a report in the January 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The study suggests that people should aim for about eight hours of shut-eye per night.

I notice that when I get less than six hours of sleep a few nights in a row, my body definitely feels heavier and my headache lingers no matter how much coffee I drink throughout the day.

From Chris at Zen To Fitness...

Don’t be someone who boasts about getting by on 5-7 hours of sleep and feeling fine (like I used to), its simply not the truth and it will catch up with you eventually, only once you start getting your 7-9 hours of restful sleep daily will you realize what your missing.

From Suburban Turmoil...

Are you tired? Like, really, really tired? If you're a mom, I'm guessing the answer is yes. And that's what this week's Suburban Turmoil newspaper column is all about. Read it to find out what kinds of crazy things sleeplessness is causing my mom friends and me to do- and tell me whether you agree with my theory that if moms could only get a full night's sleep on a regular basis, WE WOULD RULE THE WORLD.

From BlogHer Sharon...

I noticed a few things about my sleeping patterns. The real reason I had formerly had so much trouble falling asleep when I wanted to was that I was stressing or thinking too much when I went to bed. Sounds simple enough, but being wound up from the day is sometimes hard to come down from. I probably don't have to tell anyone that! So I came up with a list of things that worked for me while I was off. A list I am going to try to adhere to once I enter the workforce again. One that will give me that restful night's sleep, every night. It can work for anyone.

From Karen at The Pitfalls of Life...

I learned that a good nights sleep is HIGHLY underrated. Everyone should get at least 8 hours a night. I am starting to lose the tired look I sported for the last year of my life, which incidentally, aged me at least 5 years.

Here is a video about sleep and the role it plays in a healthy immune system...

Here are a few tips to help you get enough sleep from 61 Days To Better Health...

1. Try not to drink beverages with caffeine within six hours of your bedtime (that includes soda).

2. Turn off the t.v. and relax for 15 or 20 minutes before bedtime. This is a good time to read a book (I recommend a good inspirational book).

3. Don't go to bed hungry...But also avoid heavy meals before bedtime.

4. Some foods may help promote sleep - milk, tuna, pumpkin, artichokes, avocados, almonds, eggs, peaches, walnuts, apricots, oats, asparagus, potatoes, and bananas.

5. Avoid alcohol before bedtime. It may initially help you fall asleep, but it also can cause disturbances in your sleep. Having an alcohol drink before bedtime may make it more likely that you will wake up during the night.

Another thing you can do to ensure a good night's sleep is to make your bed super comfy. I don't have an expensive mattress. But I do have a memory foam topper, a feather pillow, and high thread count linens on my bed.  I find that having a comfortable bed makes a big difference in how well I sleep.  

Are you getting enough sleep? Do you notice a difference in how you feel on days you don't get enough sleep? What do you do to ensure a good night's sleep? Let me know in comments.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope