Importance of Sleep

 

 

Sleep is defined as a state of unconsciousness from which a person can be aroused. ?When you are sleeping the brain is relatively more responsive to internal stimuli than external stimuli. There are many reasons why our bodies need sleep. Sleep is quite essential for the normal, healthy functioning of the human body.

Sleep is now known to be a dynamic process, and studies found that our brains are active during sleep. Sleep affects our physical and mental health, and is essential for the normal functioning of all the systems of our Human body, including the immune system. The effect of sleep on the immune system affects one?s ability to fight disease and endure sickness.

Sleep is our bodies way of rejuvenating. It is the period in which we lower the energy levels expelled each day, our muscles and soft tissue are repaired and revitalized, and our mind is able to process memories and things we have learned for the day. Although one day of sleep deprivation is not fatal, it will indeed cause alterations in mood, physical well being, and overall cognitive function.

Though we all have different sleep patterns, sleep different amounts sleep is literally necessary to stay alive. Strangely, though it is just as important as breathing, many people live with agonizing and life altering sleep disorders. The importance of sleep is often overlooked.

In order to evaluate and truly respect the importance of sleep, it is relevant to consider the symptoms that occur with the absence of proper sleep. First of all, the average duration of sleep should be around eight hours. Studies have shown that certain individuals are able to function with less sleep, with as little as six hours; however others are unable to function unless they have reached as many as ten hours of rest.

A lack of sleep will quickly cause irritability, grogginess, the inability to make decisions or follow through with cognitive functions. It will cause hallucinations, dozing off during activities and even throughout the day, etc. A continued lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain, anxiety, depression, lethargy and fatigue. A chronic, or pathological, sleep disorder will often result in an immune system deficiency. Severe sleep deprivation can ultimately lead to death. These inevitabilities clearly show the importance of sleep.

States of brain activity during sleep and wakefulness result from different activating and inhibiting forces that are generated within the brain.