Why is sleep important?
The length and quality of sleep affects absolutely everything - from mood to health to mental and physical performance. Read what happens in the body when you sleep, what sleep deprivation is, how it manifests itself and what is the best prevention.
You are sleeping, the brain is running at full speed
A number of processes take place during sleep . The brain processes information and stores it in long-term memory, hormones important for the proper functioning of the body are produced , such as growth hormone, oxytocin and prolactin. It also reduces the level of cortisol , which is responsible for the body's alertness in stressful situations. This is for the nervous system to rest.
The sleep rhythm is controlled by a part of the midbrain - the so-called hypothalamus (specifically in the pineal gland), where the hormone melatonin is produced . It gives the body a signal that it is a good time to sleep . Its most intense flushing occurs between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. With increasing age, its production slows down, which is why the older generation suffers from insomnia. But you can take it in food supplements.
During sleep, two phases alternate: REM and NREM , at ninety-minute intervals. As the sleep cycles increase, the NREM phase shortens and REM, on the contrary, lengthens. It is ideal to go through an average of five cycles during sleep and wake up in the NREM phase, in which our sleep is lighter and waking up is thus more pleasant.
When you sleep:
- toxins accumulated during the day are flushed out of the brain ,
- you regenerate mentally and physically,
- the immune system produces defensive substances such as cytokines and other antibodies,
- the necessary hormonal and metabolic processes take place .
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
What happens when you lack sleep
With a long-term sleep deficit, the brain is so exhausted that it cannot fulfill its duties .
Therefore, when you are sleep deprived, you can:
- harder to concentrate, think and learn new things,
- have a problem with movement coordination,
- be irritable and moody
- have a decreased libido.
In addition, with long-term sleep deprivation, you can suffer from hallucinations, paranoid ideas and depression , and other diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular problems. There is also a high risk of microsleep . The latter is especially dangerous when driving a car, although it can last only 3-15 seconds. So if you feel very tired, you better stop and take a nap.
Sleep Disorders
The occurrence of sleep disorders depends primarily on age and psychological and physical condition .
Sleep disorders include, for example:
Most problems can be treated . The first step is to find out their cause, with which either a general practitioner or a neurologist will help you. They will determine the next procedure and possible examination in the sleep laboratory. Subsequently, work is done to eliminate the disorder or to mitigate it. For example, by changing lifestyle and habits, psychotherapy or drugs (hypnotics).
Read our article for specific tips that can improve your sleep.
World Healthy Sleep Day
March 21 is World Healthy Sleep Day, with which we point out the importance of sleep, the issue of its disorder and remind ourselves that it is advisable not to underestimate prevention. Our pace of life is accelerating, we struggle with stress, and quality rest is diminishing. This is related to the more frequent occurrence of sleep disorders . The health facilities of the Ministry of the Interior state that more than 30% of the population suffer from them , not only adults, but also children.Books about sleep
We know that the topic of sleep is very extensive and this article cannot be endless. That's why we have four book titles for you that have earned their place in our library.
Matthew Walker - Why do we sleep?
What does it look like when a neuroscientist tackles the subject of sleep? It answers all the questions that revolve around this topic and adds a lot of facts that are so clear and yet will surprise many of you.
Guy Leschziner - The brain as a night monster
How would you feel if you woke up behind the wheel of a moving car, or with an unexpectedly full stomach and an empty fridge? Neurologist Guy Leschziner has many such stories in his drawer.
Shawn Stevenson - Sleep is an art
Do you just lie down and fall asleep and have nothing to improve on your sleep? Shawn Stevenson would disagree. He created strategies that can improve the quality of sleep. Do you want to know them too?
Arriana Huffington - The Sleep Revolution
What consequences can sleep deprivation have? How to defend yourself from it and how to get out of it, if you are already caught by it? A sleep revolution! Arriana Huffington will show you how to do it in detail.
