From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/healthtips/s-95458-983374
Effective sleep solutions are available to anyone who suffers from any
type of sleep disorder. As part of our effective sleep solutions this
article will answer some of the questions that you may have.
Are you aware that you will spend almost one third of your life
sleeping? During the time our body is awake the nerve cells constantly
active become more or less fatigued. This is why you may need a nap
some times during the day. Sleep gives the body cells a chance to
throwing out the waste and the opportunity to repair themselves. To
insure a recovery period from such fatigue, we undergo the periodic
loss of consciousness known as sleep. Sleep is a very important
function, and though we may put off going to sleep, it will eventually
take over.
Necessity and importance of Sleep
Sleep is a usual and necessary part of our survival and having a good
sleep solution plan is essential to brain function. As each person
rests, the body rejuvenates, so that it will be ready to function
properly the next day. What happens when you body gets too much or too
little sleep. The brain causes stress on the body and you become
easily irritated and grumpy. When you sleep you are giving your body a
mini-vacation. Sleep also gives your brain a chance to sort things
out. Although it is not known what functions take place in the brain
while you are sleeping, it is believed that this is the time that the
brain sorts and store information, replace chemicals or corrects
imbalances, and solves problems in the body.
Sleep is a type of unconsciousness state, and is essential to good
health. It refreshes the body and the mind, and helps the body heal
from trauma of the day. If you get enough sleep regularly every night
you will feel and work better.
Sleep effectiveness
Sleeping and waking are part of your internal clock controlled by your
brain. How much sleep should a person get each night? The amount of
sleep a person needs depends a lot on his or her age. As an example
babies sleep about 14-15 hours, while older people need only 7-8 hours
each night. Most kids between the ages of 5 and 12 years old somewhere
in between need 10 to 11 hours of sleep. Some kids might need more and
some need less. However, can we have less than 8 hours of sleep? Find
out more!
It depends on the individual. Some people need a great deal of sleep,
while others require only a minimum of sleep. The individual needs to
get the amount of sleep necessary to feel alert, healthy, and totally
fit. If an individual is dragging during the night then he needs to
get more sleep. Some people may require more sleep due to their
circadian rhythm and their metabolism. Their body processes may
require more time, so they may need more sleep to rest and restore
their body.
Skipping one night's sleep can make a person irritable and inept. Once
a person misses two nights of sleep, that person will have problems
thinking and doing things. The brain can no longer do their normal
tasks as well. After five nights without sleep, a person will
hallucinate. Eventually, it becomes impossible for the brain to give
its directions to the rest of the body without sleep.
The amount of sleep not only affects your mortality but also your
personality. Some people are by nature long sleepers, and some are
short sleepers. Studies show that people, who tend to sleep longer,
tend to be more introverted and creative. People who require less
sleep tend to be more extroverted and concrete.
Whether or not you are a long sleeper or a short one, getting too few
hours of sleep can make one cranky and less energetic, which the
majority of people have probably experienced. Continual lack of sleep
can lead to mental issues such as depression, deprive one of thinking
clearly, and hinder the quality of work.
Recorded brain waves have helped in the study of the different stages
of sleep. The studies have indicated that there are four stages of
sleep that occur in cycles each lasting about ninety minutes.
When you first fall asleep, your brain waves will slow down, as you
become more relaxed. As you experience the third stage your body and
mind become more unaware of the world outside. The fourth stage is the
deepest stage in the cycle known as Rapid eye movement, which is the
stage in which most people dream. After ten or more minutes of REM
sleep, the sleep cycle repeats. This goes on all through the night at
least three or four times. During REM sleep, not only do your eyes
move around quickly, your heart rate increases, and your automatic
body processes speed up. These periods last about twenty minutes a
stretch and occur four or five times during the night, alternating
between REM sleep and non-REM sleep. During this time your body
functions slow down and you get your deepest sleep.
Myths of Sleep
If you sleep longer, you'll be more awake and have more energy in
your life. Getting more sleep than your body needs actually will
rob you of energy and damage your effective sleeping patterns. If your
body sleeps longer than it needs to you put stress on a number of
other factors such us your melatonin hormone levels, your exposure to
sunlight, and your body temperature rhythm.
Sleeping for longer than normal periods of time or trying to catch up
on sleep only weakens your effective sleep system, which in turn can
lower your immune system.
You need to Catch Up on Sleep that you have missed. Unless you
have not slept for several days, there is no need to catch up on
sleep. During the first 3 - 4 hours of sleep is when we experience
most of State 3 and Stage 4 sleep. Sleeping longer than you usually do
is not beneficial in anyway.
I feel low on energy; I must not be getting enough sleep.
Quantity is not the answer here, quality is. People have a tendency to
think that sleep is a very basic thing. The truth is that sleep is
actually quite a complex system that most of us take for granted. Due
to the fact that most people do not understand how our inner sleep
system works, we aren't aware of the actions being taking that are
damaging our effective sleep systems and patterns that are depriving
us of energy.
Reprinted from iSnare.com.