What Is Sleep?

Sensible Strategies for Soothing Sleep

Have you ever had a night when you just couldn’t get to sleep? Or, a night during which you kept waking up frequently? Don’t turn one restless night into full blown insomnia! Use these sensible strategies to get soothing, restful sleep.

What is sleep?

Sleep is regulated by our circadian rhythms, the body's biological clock. Circadian rhythms are tied to cycles of light and dark. Sensors on our retinas deliver daytime vs. nighttime messages to the pineal gland, inside the brain. When it is dark outside, the pineal gland produces the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin, which helps put us to sleep. When it is light outside, the pineal encourages the body to awaken.

During the course of a night, we move into deeper and deeper slumber. After getting to the deepest stage, we begin dream sleep, which includes vigorous brain activity and rapid eye movement (REM). We cycle through these stages of sleep every 90 minutes.

What causes poor sleep?

Although most Americans try to get at least seven hours of sleep per night, more than 60% report that they have trouble sleeping several nights per week. They attribute the lack of sleep to worry, relationships gone wrong, allergies, and heartburn. Too many hours spent at work also robs us of sleep.

The Purpose of Sleep

Sleep affects everything we do: our ability to learn, our skills, our memory, stamina, and our health and safety. Most of all, it affects our moods. Sleep disruption may be the biggest trigger of depression. Restful, restoring sleep energizes us, keeps our brains humming, improves memory, and maintains our ability to stay safe and healthy.

Please always consult your doctor about your health problems. This blog is for information only - Not for diagnosing health conditions.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia