Sleep is our life support system and research is proving that it is not an option. Restorative sleep is essential for a healthy life. All animals require restorative sleep, yet human beings are the only creatures that suppress the need for sleep. Nonrestorative sleep has a devastating impact on our learning, memory, immune system response, and even our genetic code. Research from all over the globe is providing mounting evidence that sleep is crucial to our survival. One of the largest observations of the impact sleep has on humans involves 1.6 billion people across 76 countries. . . it's called Daylight Savings Time. Research from DST has shown that just one hour difference in sleep has a tremendous impact on our ability to function. When we fall back (adding an extra hour of sleep) we see that the number of heart attacks the following Monday decreases by 20%. When we spring forward (losing an hour of sleep) we see that the number of heart attacks increases by 23%. Not only that, but there is a statistically significant increase in the number of suicides, automobile accidents, and decreased productivity in business. Research has also shown that lack of restorative sleep results in a 70% decrease in the number of natural killer cells (cells responsible for immune system response). There is also evidence of an increase in modified gene activity responsible for promoting tumors, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.