The Science Behind Sleep

Sleep. It is a great thing – a precious, coveted and valued thing. For many, we simply don’t get enough sleep. Several reasons contribute to this factor. However, it mostly comes down to the fact that there are just not enough hours in the day. Yet, for some people, sleep does not come easily. These people toss and turn throughout the night only to rise in the morning lacking proper rest. This begs the question – what is sleep? And, why do we need it?

According to Thomas Edison, sleep was a waste of time. If you think about it, some of the greatest minds only sleep approximately 4 hours a night. Yet, doctors and media claim that sleep is essential for our health. Sleep, which is explained as a state of rest allows us to operate and function as human beings.

The process of sleep is complex. While we sleep we experience a decreased reaction to the external stimuli in the environment, which results in a loss of consciousness. There are also 2 parts of sleep – the first part Non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, and the second REM sleep.

Non-REM Sleep

1. Light Sleep: This is the first part. We can be awakened easily because we are not fully asleep.
2. True Sleep: Our heart rate and breathing rate will slow down a lot during this phase. It should last for 20 minutes.
3. Deep Sleep 1: Our heart rate and breathing rate continue to slow and the brain starts to produce delta waves.
4. Deep Sleep 2: At this stage the muscles activity is at it’s lowest. If we wake up we feel groggy.

REM Sleep

While we are sleeping we enter this stage approximately 6 times. The brain is actually very active and our eyes move around inside our eyelids. Our breathing and blood pressure rises. During this period we will most likely experience the majority of our dreams. This is the final process of sleep, after which the process repeats itself over and over again throughout the night.

Now that you know a little bit more about you sleeping patterns maybe you can relax and sleep better. It is helpful to understand the role that breathing plays in our sleep. This is why doctors often suggest meditation for patients who struggle with sleeping. Whether you struggle or not, remember that sleep plays a vital role in your overall health. Make sure you get enough of it.