Not logging enough sleep hours at night? Feeling tired during your afternoon meeting with the boss should be the least of your concerns.

A 2007 study analysis conducted at the University of Texas revealed that a disruption of melatonin synthesis -- which can be brought on by an insufficient amount of sleep -- can lessen the hormone's ability to fight harmful, cancer-causing free radicals. What's more, Men's Health reports that researchers from Harvard found that blood levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for heart-disease risk, can increase even if only a few hours of sleep are missed.

As difficult as it may sometimes seem to squeeze in a solid seven or eight hours of shuteye, it's vital to our overall health that we somehow make it happen. Plus, after a good night of Z's, you shouldn't ever have to worry about falling asleep during your boss' phenomenally boring Power Point presentation.