Sleep is necessary for survival, and aids in our overall health. Without adequate amounts we would weaken, get sick, and eventually incur a disease or medical condition that could become detrimental to our overall health and life.
All humans, animals, mammals, fish, birds and insects undergo periods of sleep as it protects us from disease, mental and physical breakdown. Because of this it's important that we understand how beneficial receiving the right amounts of sleep can be to our overall health - mentally and physically.
Sleep is divided up into two categories: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). Both categories of sleep carry with them certain neurological, physiological, and psychological associations.
During the course of the night sleep works in cycles and phases and each phase of sleep has a certain physiological function. REM sleep occurs when the body is inactive while the brain remains active. REM sleep is when most dreams take place. A loss of skeletal muscle tone occurs while our nervous system remains active.
Non-Rapid Eye Movement
NREM sleep works in the opposite manner as our body becomes active while the brain inactive, thus causing little or no dreaming.
The stages of NREM sleep are dived up into four categories. The first two are viewed as light sleep while the third and fourth are considered the deepest part of sleep. Movement of the body can take place in the third and fourth stages of NREM and is when most cases of sleep walking occur. As all stages of sleep are beneficial, if we become deprived of either stage 3 or 4 of NREM sleep our body will compensate the next time we allow ourselves to sleep and make up for the imbalance.
Functions
Extensive research has been done over the years in regards to sleep and it's overall benefits, and there are many theories associated in regards to it.
NREM sleep is considered to have anabolic and catabolic characteristics. It's a stage of sleep associated with growth and healing of the body's nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems. It releases proteins and hormone for muscular growth and development. At the four hour mark of sleep, growth hormone is released throughout the body. During slow wave sleep in stages 3 and 4 levels of growth hormone significantly increase as well as our immune function.
Rapid Eye Movement
It has been shown in studies that REM sleep seems to be of importance in the early life of children and that sleep deprivation early in life can lead to decreased brain mass and abnormal amounts of neuronal cell death. (Morrissey, Duntley & Anch, 2004).
Over the years many scientists have come to believe that human memory depends on the amount of adequate sleep. REM sleep is believed to rejuvenate the spatial and procedural part of our memory while NREM (slow-wave sleep) aids our declarative memories.
During the course of the day we subject ourselves to free radicals while our body endures breakdown and fatigue through activity and work. Sleep during the night serves a function as a protector and healer to life's strains and stresses.
Each and every one of us has different "sleep needs" and require different amounts for our lives. Depending on what we do for a living, how active we are, and our age, one may need a few more hours of sleep than the other. Some people find that they need 8 hours to operate efficiently while others are fine with 6. It all depends on your lifestyle. A very active person may require more sleep due to their body undergoing more physical strain.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends 8-9 hours of sleep for the average adult as it promotes alertness, memory and problem solving skills while aiding in overall physical and mental health. Studies performed at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine concluded that an adults cognitive performance declines if they receive less than 8 hours sleep while another study conducted at the University of California found that people tend to live longer with 6-7 hours a night.
For children, because they are rapidly growing and enduring growth spurts it is recommended that they get larger amounts of sleep than the average adult. Newborn babies can sleep for up to 18 hours a day as this number declines with age.
Causes of Sleep Deprivation: Do You Suffer?
- Not allowing yourself time to sleep.
- Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, nocturnal myoclonus, or narcolepsy.
- Worrying, excessive depression.
- Noisy surroundings.
- Shift work.
- Constant travel through different time zones.
- Medical conditions causing pain or uneasiness.
- Anxiety.
- Nervousness.
Giving yourself enough time for adequate sleep will aid in proper mental operations and alertness while keeping you safe from accidents and focused either at work or in the classroom. If you suffer from sleep deprivation talk to you doctor to gain some more information about natural alternatives as opposed to drugs that may help your quest in a acquiring a decent nights sleep.
