Good morning everyone!!
Whether you’re a night owl, an early bird or a sleep deprived pigeon, we all
spend nearly 1/3rds of our lives sleeping but have you ever wondered why? ?
So let’s dive into the science of sleep and explore why those quiet hours
matter more than we realise .
Sleeping is often understood as an inactive stage where body 'shuts down',
However, when you’re sleeping your body rests and your brain stays active.
When we sleep the body heals itself and improves immunity. Our
concentration ,memory and focus is also enhanced when our brain classifies
and sorts information gained throughout the day .
A good sleep is directly linked with anxiety levels by calming the brain and
lowering stress hormones. The proper functioning and metabolism of body is
also controlled by right amount of sleep, additionaly regulating weight and
physical health.
But does sleep really matter ? Yes it does, more than anything else. Our body
produces antibodies and strengthens the white blood cells only while we’re
sleeping . This decreases the risk of infections attacking us and
strengthening our immunity .Deprived sleep increases stress hormones like
cortisol in order to cope up with the inactiveness but this triggers high blood
pressure, further resulting in heart attacks , strokes and diseases.
During the last stage of sleep i.e REM , certain growth hormones and
accessory hormones are released that repair the tissues , simulate bone
growth and physical recovery resulting in clearer skin , body and mind.
Insulin – ‘The glucose gatekeeper’ hormone is also released during sleep
which regulates the sugar level in blood preventing diabetes .
In similar fashion sleep is crucial for mental well-being which often goes
unnoticed .7-9 hours of sleep is essential for an adult to function well with
improved cognition . Decision making , focus & concentration and memory
are adversely affected by poor sleep. A person radiating positivity is always
sufficient of sleep As proper sleep can effectively reduce the risk of
depression, anxiety and furnish emotional stability . Cortisol levels decrease
when we doze off helping us to sleep calm and silent.
If sleep is so indispensable, what happens actually to our body when we
sleep?? Well sleeping is much more intricate than it appears. When we close
our eyes and doze off to sleep, Melatonin- ‘the hormone of darkness' is
released signalling the body to rest. As a result, the heart rate ,blood
pressure, metabolism and breathing slows down . Then our muscles relax
body repairs itself during deep sleep . In REM stage the brain becomes more
active than ever resulting in series of thoughts and sensations - the dreams
blending together memories ,emotions and subconscious being.
Unfortunately, not all nights are filled with peaceful dreams . For millions
sleep becomes a battle. Let’s uncover the disorders that steals the restful
nights .
The most common one is insomnia where a person finds his difficult to fall
asleep due to stress poor sleeping habits or health conditions. Sleeping pills
or melatonin supplements are considered for the same.
The fatal sleep apnea is condition where breathing repeatedly stops and
starts during sleep leading to poor quality rest and oxygen levels in the body.
It is caused due to blockage of air passage or poor coordination during sleep.
Lastly ,narcolepsy is a rare neurological disorder which is characterised by
sudden uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during daytime. People with
narcolepsy often experience sleep attacks in the middle of daily activities.
This is a result of autoimmune response of brain to attack hypocretin
hormone suppressing wakefulness .
With busy schedules and deprived sleeps, let us understand how life
adjustments can play a crucial role in managing our sleep cycle. The
electronic devices and blue lights emitted from them is the biggest evil in
shrinking are sleep cycle .Thus , limiting screen time is essential at least an
hour before sleeping. We should always try to sleep and wake up at the same
time no matter how absorbed our schedule is ,enabling our body to function
properly.
Sleep is the biggest meditation which should not be ruined through the
intake of excessive amount of caffeine and alcohol disrupting sleep and
causing fatigue the next day. Staying physically active is one of the best
ways to prepare your body to sleep, whether through a brisk walk, yoga or
even dancing. Just make sure to avoid any intense workouts close to bedtime
as they can leave you feeling too energized to drift off.
So, lets be mindful of our choices especially when it comes to what we
consume before bed time.
“ In velvet dark, the silence deep ; The soul takes flight through gentle sleep”
Thank You
