sleep

WHAT IS SLEEP?

Sleep is physical and mental resting state in which a person becomes relatively inactive and unaware of the environment. In essence, sleep is a partial detachment from the world, where most external stimuli are blocked from the senses. Sleep is also a condition of body and mind which typically recurs for several hours every night in which the nervous system is inactive .The eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed and consciousness practically suspended.

Sleep is an often overlooked essential for optimal health and wellbeing. Yet billion of people do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. The result of recent surveys reveals at least 40 million people suffer from over 70 different sleep disorder and 60 percent of adult report having sleep problem a few night a week or more. Most of these problems go undiagnosed and treated which interfere with their daily activities.

Dr. Robert Stickgold describes study that shows importance of sleep in memory consolidation after learning a new task. Sleep is essential for a person’s health and wellbeing. According to the National Sleep Foundation [NSF]. Millions of people do not get enough sleep, conducted by the NSF.

 They found out that such problem can be directly or indirectly be tied to abnormalities in various systems such as:

• Brain and nervous system

• Cardiovascular system

• Metabolic functions

• Immune system

Furthermore, unhealthy conditions disorders and diseases can also cause sleep problem, these can include; 

• Pathological sleepiness insomnia and accidents

• Hypertension and elevated cardiovascular risks (stroke)

• Emotional disorders (depression, bipolar disorder)

• Obesity metabolic syndrome and diabetes

• Alcohol and drug abuse

Sleep plays a vital rule in good health and well being throughout your live, getting enough sleep at the right time can help protect your mental health, physical and quality of life and safety. The way you feel while you’re awake depends on what happens while you’re asleep. During sleep, your body is working to support health brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teenagers, sleep also helps support growth and development.

The damage from sleep deficiencies can occur in an instant (such as a car crash). Or it can harm you over time for example; ongoing sleep deficiencies can raise your risk to some chrome health problems. It also affects how well you think, react, work, learn and get along with others.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SLEEP?

When we sleep well, we wake up feeling refreshed and alert for our daily activities. Sleep affects how we look, feel, and perform on a daily basis and can have a major impact on our overall quality of life.

Hours of uninterrupted sleep to leave their bodies and mind rejuvenated for the next day. If sleep is cut short, the body doesn’t have time to complete all of the phases needed for muscle repair, memory, release of hormones regulating, growth and appetite. Then we wake up prepared to concentrate, make decision or engage fully in school and social activities.

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP TO HUMAN BODY

1. Cardiovascular health: sleep plays an important role in our physical health, for example, sleep is involved in healing and repairs of our heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetics and stroke.
2. Disease: sleeping correctly can help to boost the immune system. Keeping up with sleep may also help to fight cancer.
3. Mood: It regulates mood and reduces stress. Enough sleep helps the body and particularly the brain at a relaxed state, making the body to be at a good mood psychologically.
4. Metabolism and weight: Regular and adequate sleep can allow the human body to metabolize and for blood to gently flow around the body. Thereby, making the body healthy.
5. Daytime performance and safety: Getting enough quality of the right times helps you function well throughout the day. People who have sleeping deficient are less productive at work or in school. They take longer to finish tasks, have a shower reaction time, and make more mistakes. After several nights of losing sleep even a loss of just 1-2 hours per night your ability to function suffers as if you haven’t slept at all for a day or two.
   After several inabilities to sleep also leads to micro sleep. Micro sleep refers to brief moment of sleep that occurs when you are normally awake. Drivers aren’t the only ones affected by sleep deficiency it can affect Students, Lawyers and Mechanics.
   Sleep plays an important role in our body physical health for example, sleep is involve in healing repair of our blood vessels, ongoing sleep deficiencies is likely to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
   Sleep also supports healthy growth and development of deep sleep which triggers the body to decrease the hormone that promotes normal growth in children and teens, this hormone also boosts muscle mass and help repair cells and tissues in children, teens and adults.
   
   
   TIPS FOR A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP

As a college student, there are many factors that may make maintaining a regular sleep schedule difficult, such as living in the residence hall, study for exams. Late classes and socializing. Your daily habit and activities may affect how well you sleep. The demanding life of undergraduates and graduate students can make it challenging to maintain healthy daily habit below are some suggestion for ways you can modify your daily routine to promote better sleep;

Incorporate a small amount of time each day to be outside in daylight; Time spent outside during the day helps to preserve your body’s sleep and wake cycles. There are many options on campus for this:

• Walk to class
• Study outside
• Play a regular outdoor club sport
• Relax in the sun with your friends
• Organize a weekly walk outside with your friends to get benefit of both exercise and sunlight
• Work a job that allows you to be outside.

Try to get some physical activity on most days; Exercise promotes more regular sleep and work patterns as well as reduces stress. It’s important to avoid exercise and other vigorous activities three-to-four hours before going to bed to avoid awaking the body even more and making it more difficult to fall asleep.

Regular meals schedule can also help you get a good night sleep; Eat smaller meals and be especially careful to avoid heavy meals near bed time, you’re eating schedule may be dictated by your class/work schedule or by the time when your friends are eating.