Sleep
101
Sleep
is the balm for our weary bodies and spirits. For what
is sleep but a physical and mental resting state in
which a person becomes relatively inactive and unaware
of the environments. It is characterized by a general
decrease in body temperature, blood pressure, breathing
rate and most other bodily functions.
Sleep
is a necessary and vital biological function. It enables
the body to rejuvenate, reenergize and restore. It
ensures the normal functioning of all the systems in our
body, including the nervous system and immune system.
Sleep enables the brain to regenerate brain cells to
boost our memory and ability to carry out mathematical
calculations.
It
is also during sleep that release of growth hormone in
children and young adults takes place. Sleep likewise
helps maintain the optimal functioning of our emotional
and social aptitude by giving rest to our brain and
other organs in the body.
Sleep
is actually a dynamic process with two different states
that alternate in cycles during a night’s sleep. Sleep
consists of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye
movement (REM) sleep. NREM is further subdivided into
four stages: Stage I (light sleep), Stage II and Stage
III and IV (deep sleep).
Approximately
75 percent of the sleep cycle is spent in non-REM sleep.
Stage I is a stage of light sleep and is considered a
transition from wakefulness to sleep. This stage
could be termed the "dozing" stage.
Stage
II occurs throughout the sleep period. This stage is
often considered the official onset of consolidated
sleep.
At
Stage III, sleep advances progressively deeper making an
individual difficult to arouse. Stage 4 is characterized
by very deep sleep. People who wake during deep sleep
often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes.
REM
sleep, on the other hand, represents 20 to 25 percent of
the total sleep time and is usually associated with
dreaming.
Sleep
essential to a person’s physical and emotional
well-being. Infants have an overall greater total sleep
time than any other age group. Adults need an average
amount of six to eight hours per day. Towards old age,
people tend to sleep more lightly and for shorter
periods of time.
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