Why Is Sleep So Important?

By Jeffrey L. Brown, DDS

Sleep & TMJ Therapy

. http://sleepandtmjtherapy.com/

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Why Is Sleep So Important?

As human beings, we require sleep on an almost daily basis. Without proper sleep, our body tends to breakdown. In the past, very little was understood about why we need sleep, but now we are learning more about why we need to snooze. When you first lay down in bed, your body goes through various cycles as it approaches deep and later REM sleep in which we dream. Even the dreaming stage is not really well understood, but we do know our body needs it. As the body progresses through the various cycles of sleep it is believed that the cells are resting, repairing, and regenerating to prepare for the next day.

Sure, you can miss some of the sleep cycles and get less sleep than is needed now and then, but it does catch up with how you feel. Sleep deprivation can lead to headaches, drowsiness during the daytime, irritability, and even hallucinations. At our younger ages it is imperative that we get plenty of sleep. Infants need at least 12-16 hours of sleep each night and they are happier if that cycle stays on a consistent time track. Teens need only 8-10 hours of sleep and adults need 7-9 hours of sleep.

As we cycle through sleep each night, we start off with stage N1 sleep and spend about 5% of the night in N1. From there, we move to N2 and spend about 45% of the night in N2 sleep. After this, we go into N3 for about 25% of the night and finally into REM for about 25% of the night. While sleeping, we cycle through this pattern several times and with all good luck wake up feeling refreshed and alert the next morning. 

Unfortunately, too many people these days do not sleep very well and wake up tired and cranky the next morning. This can sometimes be attributed to the medications they are on, their stress levels, travel into different time zones, and even obesity which is becoming more and more common. This is why sleep doctors and dentists have a harder job each year. Sleep apnea is becoming more the norm than the odd condition. Too many people are suffering the effects of apnea. Now, individuals are experiencing medical conditions associated with sleep deprivation.

One of the biggest problems with not getting enough sleep is that you wake up tired, and that is not a good way to start the day. The research is also clear that sleep deprivation and sleep apnea are directly related to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. When the body does not get enough sleep, its systems start to breakdown and that body is more prone to these serious conditions. If you need some help, reach out to your doctor and find out what steps can help you.