Importance Of Sleep

A chemical process taking place inside the brain that make you feel ‘sleep’. The hypothalamus, which connects the functions of the body to the surroundings, controls the sleeping process. When it is the time to sleep, hypothalamus gives signals to a region; ‘Pons’.

The process of sleeping and getting up from it are controlled by hormones; serotonin, noradrenaline and acetylcholine. Adrenaline functions more when we are awake and acetylcholine has more importance while sleeping.

Brain does not sleep, during sleep. It remains active and awake even when the body is under a deep sleep. Brain is under work for tomorrow’s activities. That is why, we feel tired, if proper sleep is not obtained during the night before.

For proper sleep, certain things are important:

1. The place and time of sleep
2. The way we sleep
3. If a person is sleeping daily in a noisy room, his sleep may be enhanced by the noise around him.
4. Sleeping regularly in a calm and quiet place, makes him difficult to adjust in crowded, noisy surroundings.
5. Sleep may be induced for some by darkness inside the room.
6. But some need lighted rooms.

How long one should sleep:

1. A person should sleep, according to his own body needs.
2. The elderly should sleep for about 6 hours.
3. Proper sleeping keeps away tiredness.
4. Shivering of hands, heaviness of the eyelids, to get angry very soon, unable to concentrate and blurring of speech are commonly seen in people who are not able to sleep properly at night.

An afternoon nap is considered to be good for health. It does not have any connection with the type of meals we have.

Alcoholism disrupts the balance of sleep. When people use alcohol to induce sleep, it has an effect similar to that of a sleeping pill. A person who consumes alcohol uncontrollably, can have serious sleeping problems. He will not be able to sleep properly for some days, once he stops drinking suddenly.

There are four main reasons behind sleeplessness;

1. Mental imbalances
2. When a person grows older
3. Over use of pills, alcohol, etc.
4. Diseases like Fatal familial insomnial syndrome

Also certain other reasons like;

• Reduced level of certain hormones
• Lack of proper functioning of thyroid gland
• Diseases that affect liver
• Kidney dysfunction

Diseases related to sleep:

1. Narcolepsy: one of the fatal diseases related to sleep. The person suddenly falls into sleep for about 5- 10 minutes, while doing some work. This may be either during driving, or working on a machine, etc.
2. Talking while sleeping: this cannot be considered as a diseased condition, nor is it happening in the dream. Constant thoughts may come out as words. This is not a major issue and need not be anxious about it.
3. Walking during sleep: this is usually seen among small children. They tend to walk during sleeping, which fades away while growing old. Some of them may scream out loud as a result of any horrifying dream. This may not be considered as a diseased situation.
4. Klein Levin syndrome: this affects hypothalamus. The person may remain asleep for months. The person may get up only to have food. They show greediness towards food items, and requires expert treatment.

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