Sleep is critical to health and problems associated with it are many, and varied and it is important that we understand its true nature to enable us understand why we must ensure that we practice good sleep hygiene.
The Holy Bible is clear that ‘He give sleep to His beloved’, underscoring the centrality of sleep for man.
No man can live without good sleep.
“What causes the weird feeling that prevents one from catching sleep even when very tired? Is it normal?”
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The subject of sleep is fascinating and yet not well understood by most lay people. Sleep is critical to health and problems associated with it are many, and varied and it is important that we understand its true nature to enable us understand why we must ensure that we practice good sleep hygiene.
The Holy Bible is clear that ‘He give sleep to His beloved’, underscoring the centrality of sleep for man. No man can live without good sleep.
Almost all mammals sleep and this is clearly an important aspect of life and being. Giraffes sleep for only two hours a day in short bouts of ‘power naps’ lasting five to 15 minutes, while the Koala sleeps for 20 to 22 hours a day! Snakes also sleep, but because they have no eyelids, they sleep with their eyes open.
The commonest examples of conditions associated with sleep problems in humans include depression, anxiety or mania during bipolar mood disorder. There are in addition, a large number of other causes of sleep disturbances particularly in the aged including, conditions such as joint pain, urinary problems and heart problems. It is not true that sleep problems are only associated with psychological issues.
For this reason, it is important to establish the root cause of sleep problem before embarking on any treatment. Many elderly people fall and break their bones because well meaning but ignorant medical workers or family members give them sleeping pills that accumulate and make the elderly unsteady on their feet. Proper examination by a doctor is critical to the proper treatment of sleep problems.
The other thing that is important to point out is the fact that each condition that causes lack of sleep has a typical pattern of sleep disturbance, for example, people who suffer from anxiety disorders have difficulties falling off to sleep. Depressed people are able to fall off to sleep easily but halfway through the night say at two or three in the morning their sleep disappears. Treatment of these conditions is therefore different. It is not enough to say that one has a sleep problem. Its cause must be established.
People who drink alcohol will often wake up in the morning appearing to have slept well, but complaining that they have not rested. This is in part because drugs and in particular alcohol, interfere with the normal stages of sleep. Alcohol leads to a state closer to unconsciousness rather than true natural sleep. In this regard it is important to point out that a normal person goes through at least four distinct stages of sleep.
In stage one, the individual transitions from wakefulness to very light sleep. After a few minutes this then translates into slightly deeper stage of sleep. Stage three is a critically important stage of sleep because although it is non Rapid Eye movement sleep (NREM), this is the critical stage of sleep that enables the body to become a workshop during which time tissue repair work takes place. The body cells and the immune system and other necessary restorative activities take place during this stage of sleep. Without this repair, the body dies. It is when we undergo the repair work during sleep that we are able to live a healthy life. Animal studies have shown that life is significantly shortened in animals denied sleep.
About 90 minutes after the individual has fallen off to sleep, one enters stage four which is called rapid eye movement sleep (REM). The eyes move rapidly from side to side under the eyelid. This is also an important stage and individuals who are denied this stage of sleep have difficulties in concentration and in memory. Unknown to many, during deep sleep, the brain becomes very active. The heart rate goes up and activities that promote memory and concentration go up in the brain. Dreaming takes place during this stage of sleep. Individual who do not have this stage of sleep report problems and difficulties with concentration and attention and are unable to learn new tasks.
Sleep is a critical component of our health and well-being, and those who practice good sleep hygiene will end up in good health. A great deal goes on during the night as you sleep.
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