What Is Sleep?

Sleep can be defined as “an active state of unconsciousness produced by the body where brain is in relative state of rest and is reactive primarily to internal stimulus”. Sleep is needed for physical and mental homeostasis (a state of balance). We sleep for around one-third of our lives, in order to recover our bodies and process the impressions we experienced during the day. Sleep deprivation also called as 'Nidra Nasha' or 'Anidra' in Sanskrit can impair normal functioning, and this can be a disease in itself or can be associated with another physiological or mental impairment.

Why do we need to Sleep?

Sleep is essential for good health. In fact, your brain and body stay remarkably active while you sleep. Many biological processes happen during sleep:

The brain stores new information and gets rid of toxic waste.

Nerve cells communicate and reorganize, which supports healthy brain function.

The body repairs cells, restores energy, and releases molecules like hormones and proteins.

If there is not enough amount of sleep, and this deprivation persist for a long duration, it can end up with memory impairments, mood issues and also might lead to comorbidities like Hypertension, diabetes etc

How much sleep do you need ?

Sleep differs with different age groups.

Newborns : Sleep for approx 16 to 18 hours a day

Adolescents: Sleep 8 to 10 hours per night

Adults: Sleep for approx 8 hours per night

Newborns : Sleep for approx 16 to 18 hours a day

Late Life: Sleep is broken up, lighter, and associated with many nighttime arousals

Why is getting enough sleep important ?

Getting enough sleep has many benefits. It can help you:

Get sick less often.

Stay at a healthy weight.

Lower your risk for serious health problems, like diabetes and heart disease.

Does it matter, at what time you sleep ?

Circadian rhythms refer to the daily rhythms in physiology and behavior as a whole. They regulate the sleep-wake cycle, physical activity, and food consumption, as well as body temperature, heart rate, muscle tone, and hormone secretion throughout the day.The rhythms are produced by hypothalamic neural structures that act as a biological clock.

Lack of sleep can significantly impact your health ?

Insomnia can add to the risk of a number of health problems, that may include:

Chronic sleep loss is linked to:

Depression
Anxiety
Compromised immune system function Mood lability
High blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Obesity

Lack of sleep is associated with:

Memory impairments
Reductions in cognitive abilities
Mood lability

Reference:

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