When it comes to humans we all have a common denominator. Rich or poor old or young, we all sleep. Have you ever thought about it in detail though? There are tons of variations from length of time, to time of day, to how much sleep you got the day before. Have you ever noticed that sometimes you can sleep less in terms of time, but wake up feeling more refreshed than after a long sleep you had before? In this article we will give an overview of all things sleep.
Sleep is a state of body and mind. It has been written as a state between wakefulness or full consciousness, but also not as a deep of a lack of reactivity as a coma or unconsciousness. This is why your alarm clock will still wake you up, but the same can not be said for those who are in comas.
During sleep the body alternates between REM sleep and non REM sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement. It is thought that during REM sleep is where we have most of our dreams, and the most healthy sleep. During sleep the body is in an anabolic state and repairs/strengthens many aspects of the body. For example sleep helps to restore the muscular, immune and skeletal systems. Our sleep cycles are linked to our circadian rhythms, which are linked closely to rising and setting of the sun, and is what helps us feel sleepy at night.
Unfortunately, in our modern times many people suffer from various kinds of sleep disorders. These are most likely caused by bad habits/lifestyles and are able to be corrected with enough effort. To get the best sleep and thus the most positive health effects as possible we recommend the following. Have your room cool before you go to bed. Go to sleep at the same time everyday this will help to keep your circadian rhythm in an optimal state. Don’t use phones for an hour before bed as the blue light can cause your body to think it is still day time. Sweet dreams!
