Originally posted on Slumber Yard

When you are regularly working out, you don’t always have the luxury of an extended recovery time. It’s common for people to spring an injury during workouts, only to have to power through the injury without giving themselves adequate time to heal. 

Of course, there’s nothing better than sinking into the best mattress, but few people realize how much sleep can aid in muscle recovery. There are many flashy, expensive solutions out there to help improve sleep and reduce injury: supplements and therapies, machines and at-home systems. Some of these are effective, and some are not, but don’t underestimate the value of good old-fashioned sleep. 

At the end of the day, your body needs rest so it can recoup and rebuild. This is why you should never underestimate the power of sleep, especially when you are working out.

Sleep Stages For Muscle Recovery

Sleep plays a major role in helping your body recover after a long...

Regular exercise keeps you healthy, especially as you age.  It improves your balance, helps you lose weight, strengthens your muscles and bones, all while making you look and feel better.

But that’s not the whole story. 

Regardless of your age and conditioning level (yes, that includes everyone from power walkers to ultra-marathoners), research shows that working out more often provides health benefits—especially in the disease prevention department.

Here are five of the health ailments that regular exercise helps to prevent, manage, and assist in recovery and rehabilitation.

Improved Heart Health

Guess what’s the best way to improve your heart health and strengthen your heart muscles?

It’s cardiovascular training, according to the American Heart Association. 

First, regular exercise reduces blood pressure, or what’s known as chronic hypertension. This is the biggest risk factor for heart disease.  Hypertension is...