Why Do We Need to Sleep
Did you know that an average person spends one-third of their life sleeping? High-quality sleep is just as crucial as food, water, and other essentials for survival. However, it’s often treated as an optional luxury these days. If you have ever spent a night awake, you know how important sleep is to keep your body and brain working. In this post, we’ll learn the science behind sleep, how much sleep you need according to a general physician in Navi Mumbai, and what exactly happens in your body when you are resting.
Understanding Sleep Cycle
Sleep occurs in cycles, each one of which has multiple stages. A sleep cycle lasts 90-120 minutes and repeats several times a night, until your body gets the sleep it needs.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the sleep stages.
Stage 1: Light Sleep
Just when you are about to go into a light sleep state, your heart rate slows, and you doze off. It’s the shortest of all, lasting for only 1-7 minutes. You can still be awakened easily.
Stage 2: Deeper Light Sleep
You spend half of the time sleeping in this stage. Your heart rate and breathing slow further, and your temperature drops. Your eye movement may also stop, and your muscles relax.
Stage 3: Deep Sleep
This is the most crucial phase of sleep. During this stage, your tissues and cells repair, and your immune system gets a boost. You become unresponsive to the noises and activities outside. It’s hard to wake up from a deep sleep stage.
Stage 4: REM Sleep
REM contributes to around 20-25% of your sleep. That’s when you start dreaming. Your eyes move, but your body becomes temporarily paralyzed, so you don’t act on your dreams..
How Much Sleep Your Body Needs
A healthy adult needs to sleep for at least 7 hours, although some may need longer stretches of sleep depending on their age, health, and activity levels.
- Infants (up to 3-4 months old): 14-17 hours
- 4-12 months: up to 16 hours
- 1-2 years: 11-14 hours
- 3-5 years: 10-13 hours
- 6-12 years: 9-12 hours
- 13-18 years: 8-10 hours
- 18+ years: 7 hours
Why Do We Need to Sleep
We need a good night’s sleep to wake up feeling refreshed and focused. It helps physically and emotionally. Here’s what scientists have found about the need for sleep.
- Energy Conservation: Sleep saves our energy and reduces our caloric requirements.
- Cellular Restoration: During sleep, several hormones that are responsible for our growth are released. It enables cellular restoration.
- Brain Function: Sleep clears the clutter from your brain and improves your brain function overall. The areas that your brain works on while you are asleep include memory consolidation, creativity, learning ability, decision-making, concentration, and problem-solving skills.
- Emotional Well-being: Sleep also helps regulate your emotional well-being. People who get enough sleep tend to respond better to stressful situations and fears compared to those who don’t sleep well.
- Weight Management: Sleep suppresses your hunger hormones by preserving your energy.
If you struggle to fall or stay asleep, visit a multispecialty hospital in Navi Mumbai to get the right diagnosis and treatment. Remember, a good sleep routine can do wonders for your physical and mental health.