Benefits of Sleep, Experts: Very Influential on Health
Harianjogja.com, JOGJA – Most people believe that sleep is a passive activity as long as the body and brain are inactive. But who would have thought that sleep contributed a quarter to a third of human life.
On the contrary, sleep expert and Johns Hopkins neurologist Mark Wu, MD, Ph.D, says sleep is a period when the brain is involved in a number of activities necessary for life.
Based on the Hopkins Medicine page, throughout the time you are sleeping, the brain will repeatedly cycle through two different types of sleep, namely dreaming sleep or Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM sleep.
The first part of this cycle is non-REM sleep, which consists of four stages. The first is between waking and falling asleep, secondly sleeping lightly when the heart rate and breathing regulate and body temperature decreases, third and fourth is deep sleep.
Recent data suggests non-REM sleep is more important for a deeper, restorative phase of sleep.
When you enter REM sleep, your eyes move rapidly behind closed eyelids, and brain waves are similar to wake-up waves. The breath rate increases and the body becomes temporarily paralyzed while we dream.
According to Wu, the main process of sleep is regulated by circadian rhythms and sleep impulses.
The circadian rhythm is controlled by a biological clock located in the brain. One of the main functions of this ‘clock’ is to respond to light cues, increase the production of the hormone melatonin at night, and will stop its production when it senses a light body.
The sleep drive plays a key role. The body really needs sleep, its desire will increase until your body really needs sleep.
The main difference between sleep and other bodily needs, such as eating, is that your body can make you fall asleep when you are tired.
When you’re tired, your body can experience micro-sleep episodes for a second or two, even when your eyes are open.
Nap effect
Naps of more than 30 minutes during the day can disrupt nighttime sleep by reducing your body’s sleep drive.
Sleep needs are important for the whole body. When people don’t get enough sleep, their health risks increase.
Symptoms of depression, seizures, high blood pressure, and migraines are getting worse. Immunity is compromised, increasing the chance of disease and infection.
Source: Suara.com