Secrets to Sleeping Soundly
Table of Contents
The Definition of Sleep and What it Does
About Sleep Research
What is REM (and is it important)?
Are Dreams Important?
What is Circadian Rhythm?
What is Insomnia?
Do You Need a Sleep Test?
How Light Affects Sleep
How serious is Persistent Insomnia
What are Snoring and Sleep Apnea?
Your Infant and Sleep (Beware of SIDS)
What is Narcolepsy and Is It Treatable?
How to Prevent Sleepwalking and Night Terrors
Sleep and the Immune System
What Is Lucid Dreaming
The Definition of Sleep and
What it Does
Why is sleep important?
Sleep needs no definition, especially for most people who have longed for the
sweet experience of deep slumber, Sleep may be defined as that stage in which
a person is supposed to experience total relaxation of body and mind. During
sleep, a person is less conscious and less active but his brain is at work.
Proper sleep is important if a person is to keep to his normal duties the next
working day. A person who gets little sleep will be more irritable, less
focused and more fatigued the next day. Getting less sleep for one night can be
an irritant to most people; getting less sleep for weeks can be extremely
detrimental to health.
People who lack sleep can wake up troubled the next morning. And, while a
person who lacks sleep can still do his normal tasks, he could be doing it in a
robotic way and he can start acting like a zombie.
While lack of sleep can cause minor disturbances and changes in a person’s
behavior and working patterns, it can cause a major catastrophe when a sleep
deprived person attempts to drive and subsequently causes an accident. Sleepy
drivers have caused deadly accidents on the highways. This is no joke when you
consider that almost fifty one percent of drivers feel sleepy behind the wheel.
This has led to 100,000 annual crash incidents and the numbers are still
increasing.
Why do people get poor
sleep?
Most people are deprived of a good sleep for several reasons like a heavy
workload which requires them to work late nights, too much television and a very
active social life which means too many late-night parties. There are people
who experience sleep deprivation because of jet lag or changes in time zones,
neighborhood noise or it may be the effect of a medication they are taking.
Other people may stay home doing nothing but they could not sleep properly
because of some sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea. Insomnia can be
mild or severe, with mild insomnia lasting for a few days and sever insomnia
causing lack of sleep for months. A person who has insomnia can try everything
but still fails to go to sleep. This can cause fatigue, poor concentration and
depression the next day.
Another cause of lack of sleep is sleep apnea or that disorder more popularly
known as snoring. Snoring is not only harmful to the person who experiences
sleep apnea but also to the companion who is also deprived of sleep due to his
or her bed mate’s snoring.
We will discuss severe insomnia and sleep apnea in depth in an upcoming
chapter.
How to avoid sleep
deprivation
People who know what is good for them psychologically and physically should try
to get as much sleep as possible. It’s important to know your priorities
because if you keep on prioritizing your current activities with poor sleeping
habits you might end up not capable of working at all. Party animals should
keep their partying in check and limit the days when they would be out partying
for most of the night.
People who can’t sleep because of sleep disorders should see their doctors as
soon as possible to get proper treatment. Some disorders like insomnia may just
be a result of stress of emotional disturbances but it can also be deeply rooted
as when the person is suffering from a psychological imbalance.
Some people may feel refreshed after seven hours of sleep or more. However,
there are people who can recharge their energies even after only four hours of
sleep. It is not really the hours of sleep that is important but the regularity
of your sleeping schedule.
Many busy people have found a way to keep up with sleep by taking power naps,
which refers to short naps that can last to a maximum of 15 minutes. People
who commute and who use public transportation can also use their travel time to
get power naps provided they keep their belongings safe and they can estimate
the time needed for them to reach their destinations.
People who experience sleep disorders should also refrain from drinking beverage
with caffeine like coffee, tea or even alcohol as these can affect their
sleeping habits. It is also advisable to get some easy exercise or stretching
during the day or before sleeping time. Reading a boring book that can also
get you to sleep.
Lack of sleep can cause poor memory so students who have to take examinations
the next day should avoid cramming and get enough sleep the night before the big
day. Losing sleep before an exam can make you feel tired and forgetful the next
day. You won’t like the results!
It is also advisable to keep a regular sleeping schedule no matter how many
hours of sleep you have. Do stay on your schedule and if you cannot really go
to sleep, it is best to get out of bed and do things that you have been
postponing like arranging your photos and their negatives.
There is no standard number of hours for a very good sleep because each person
has his own sleeping hours. It is, however, up to you to make sure that you get
enough sleep every night.
Insomnia and apnea will be discussed in depth in upcoming chapters.
To be continued
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