Sleep occurs when the body goes into a state of rest. Human beings and a number of animals perform this activity which is important for overall health and wellbeing. The amount of sleep we need on a daily basis is still debated in some quarters, but all agree on the importance of sleep for maintaining the body’s functions.
Why We Sleep
Although sleep has been studied for so many years, there is still no concrete answer to the question of why we sleep. It has been firmly established that we need to sleep, and the ill effects of not getting enough have also been documented. The general consensus is that sleep performs a recuperative function, allowing the body to recharge its batteries so to speak. The fact is, however, that there is much that is still not known about the mechanics of this vital function.
Common Sleep Disorders
A sleep disorder is any condition that disrupts the normal sleep patterns of an individual. A few common sleep disorders include:
• Night terrors: This refers to being gripped by an intense fear while being partially awake. It is usually difficult to fully wake these persons even though they may be screaming or moaning and they often they drift off back to deep sleep.
• Insomnia: A chronic condition which renders a person unable to fall asleep for long periods of time.
• Sleep apnea: This sleep condition causes the individual to have pauses between breaths, rather than the steady breathing which is customary.
• Restless leg syndrome: This is characterized by involuntary movement of the legs while sleeping.
• Nocturia: The constant need to urinate at night during normal sleep hours.
How Lack of Sleep Impacts Health
While some sleep disorders occurs while the person affects is not fully awake, they result in changing normal sleep patterns. This change means that one is not fully rested even while sleeping. Some sources of this type of sleep depreciation can be due to stress at work, depression, or an illness unrelated to sleep management.
After one night without sleep a person can become irritable, groggy and forgetful. When sleep depreciation occurs over a period of time it can have serious implications for the person’s physical and mental health. Some of the effects of sleep depreciation are:
• Inability to concentrate
• Slower response times
• Hallucinations
• Slurred speech
• Depression
• Hypertension
• Weight gain
• Intense headaches
• Decreased pain tolerance: It is believed that lack of sleep causes the senses to intensify feelings of pain and discomfort.
Sleep helps to regulate the levels of some hormones in the body. Leptin and ghrelin for example, help to control the appetite. The levels of these hormones depend on the amount of sleep you get. As such, obesity can be seriously impacted by not getting enough sleep.
Lack of sleep also hinders the body’s ability to recover from an injury. Individuals who fail to get enough sleep are more susceptible to illness as their resistance is gradually broken down. Sleep has beneficial effects on the immune system overall. This is why when people get sic they are told to get rest.
Individuals who fail to get enough sleep because of their jobs clearly have a serious decision to make. If no flexibility is forthcoming from the employer, a change of job may be necessary, and this is not always easy. Those who lose sleep due to illness should talk to their doctor, but be warned that there are always concerns about interactions between sleep medications and certain drugs. In addition, it has been found that it is possible to become dependent on sleep aids.
Thankfully, there are natural ways to deal with some sleep problems. These include mediation, yoga, aromatherapy or drinking teas such as chamomile. Even something as simple as exercise can help improve the quality of sleep received.
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