Sleep is one of the essential routines in our daily lives. We start to feel a bit drowsy as the clock reaches a certain time and we know it is time to lie down and close our eyes for a while. We have to sleep so that our bodies can refuel for the next day. Sleep is something that is simply programmed into our bodies. We know this because it is commonly seen that people eventually sleep even if they don't want to! This is because their bodies simply demand it.
Sleep goes on for roughly one-third of our total life which shows how important it really is. It is an important activity that, if not spent wisely, will eventually detract from your work and cause severe problems in your life. People just aren't as good at anything as they are when they have had enough sleep. We know that we should not neglect our sleep because it is crucial for our motor and our cognitive functions. In order for us to survive in this world, we simply need to sleep.
In a test on rats, those who were deprived of sleep died within two to three weeks. Scientists have learned that it is crucial for both animals and people to sleep in order to be alert and functioning each day. In scientific terms, we now know that the activity of the brain regulates the amount of sleep that is needed by the body. Researchers use electrodes and electroencephalograms (EEG's) to measure electrical activity in the brain, eye movement, and muscle tension. These are all examined to determine many facts about sleep in general. The results show certain patterns which then lead to finding out about the various stages of sleep.
There are two basic stages of sleep which are rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). NREM sleep is composed of four stages in terms of the amplitude and frequency of the activity of the brain waves. The pattern of NREM sleep on the brain waves is slower, more regular, and of a higher voltage than that of wakefulness. When you are in a deep sleep, the brain waves move slower and have bigger amplitude. The first stage of NREM sleep is very light sleep. Stage two NREM, however, has two kinds of brain waves that are present. They are called sleep spindles and K complexes. Stage three and four of NREM has incrementally higher voltages and slower waves. By stage four NREM, it is extremely hard to wake a person up. This could also be referred to as "sleeping like a log".
REM sleep is the second basic stage of sleep. It is described by eye movements that bounce around underneath a person's eyelids in an extremely rapid fashion. The eye movements do not necessarily move all the time but they may suddenly zoom up and down or back and forth, stop for a while and then dart back and forth again intermittently. During REM sleep, the activity shows very fast and irregular activity. It is a lot more spontaneous than in the NREM sleep. The person's muscle tone also goes limp although the major muscles like the heart, diaphragm, eye muscles and
blood vessels are still active. The state of the body in this stage is almost like being paralyzed. This is because the electrical activities in the muscles are almost completely stopped. There may be some small twitching in these muscles but mostly there is nothing during this stage.
Sleep is a cyclical process where NREM and REM sleep will repeat in cycles. It starts with an NREM phase which last for roughly ninety to one hundred and ten minutes. Then it recurs four to six times per night. As the night progresses, the extent of NREM sleep decreases and the extent of REM sleep increases. Also, blood flow to the brain, airway resistance, sexual arousal, respiration and blood pressure increase. Sleep is a broad topic and it is intimately connected to a person's age in how it functions. Biological clocks, homeostasis, dreams, and sleep practices all play a part in how living things sleep. The science of sleep is so complex that we should all take care to get the correct amount of sleep. It is one of the most important things you will ever do!
Article Source: http://www.BharatBhasha.com
Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.com/health.php/73425
Article Added on Tuesday, April 22, 2008
| Other Articles related to "What Is Sleep" by Gary M. Miller | |
What Is Your Sleep Number
A lot of people are often surprised to hear that their quality of sleep can actually be associated with a certain number. My sleep has a number? How can that be? Actually, the reason your sleep has a number is because of the great new invention known as the sleep number bed. Everybody has a certain degree of softness that they like in a mattress and the correct amount that your body likes may be different from someone else's. What a mother does during pregnancy greatly affects her baby...
How To Find Sleep Clinics
Imagine this scenario. Thousands of tired, sleep deprived patients are walking around in their pajamas trying to find a sleep clinic to cure their insomnia! Do you think they will have much success if they don't receive any guidance? How can they be expected to find a sleep clinic when they haven't even slept for a week? These people need guidance and that is exactly why we are here! Finding a sleep clinic doesn't have to be a nightmare. Most people can get out of bed early in the morning and...
Getting Acquainted With Sleep And Disease
As we have been told time and time again, sleep is essential to the overall well being and quality of life. Each of us is required to have at least 8 hours of regular sleep everyday. It sounds difficult for some but it is a necessity! True enough, each one of us has had some minor problems in achieving a complete sleep at some time or another. What is important, however, is that we don't wait for this minor sleeping problem to lead to more headaches in the future.
Sleep and sleep related...
What Is A Sleep Disorder
Have you ever wondered why there are some people who seem to have less energy than others? Some people seem slower and are constantly making mistakes or having accidents. They are not able to finish their tasks each day and there seems to be no other explanation but simple bad luck. There are also some people who suspect that maybe there is something bothering that person or that he or she might not be feeling well. In fact, they are right! Very often, that person may be suffering from a lack...
What To Look For In A Good Sleep Clinic
Do you have sleeping problems? Everybody has had some kind of sleep problem at least once in their life. Now your worries can be put to rest because the modern sleep clinic has been designed to help people just like you! Sleep clinics are specially designed organizations whose purpose is to solve all your problems with poor sleep. This is the solution that people who can't find enough sleep have been waiting for. The clinics may prescribe special pillows, soothing music, eye covers or any...
The Benefits You Can Get From A Sleep Number Bed
Is your failure to sleep tormenting you? This is not an uncommon problem. Many people find themselves stress-ridden during the day, engaged in petty fights with their partner simply because they didn't sleep very well for the past several nights. He wants it this way while she wants it the other way! Maybe you really just need a good night's sleep!
It can really be frustrating to lose your ability to sleep well and it can create a cycle where you are up all night for days in a row. True...
Diagnoses Of Sleep Disorder
A sleep disorder is one of the most common problems to go undiagnosed. This is why it is so important to try and raise awareness about sleep disorders so that more people can learn to diagnose the problem before it is too late. Obtaining the exact medical data on a patient is an essential part of detecting certain sleep disorders, especially in cases involving Neurological disorders. People having difficulty sleeping must be aware of all the little details of their sleeping habits. They should...
How Much Sleep Is Enough
One of the most important things needed by an individual is to have enough sleep! But, how much sleep is enough? Since sleep is one of the major things needed by our body, it can affect our entire life. It can make us glow like a star or cause us to lose our mood entirely. It can actually ruin our day even if things were going pretty good! When we have enough sleep, the tendency of our work becomes lighter. When we don't, the whole day seems like drudgery.
On the other side of the coin,...
Symptoms Of Sleep Disorders
We all find sleep to be quite a struggle every once in a while. This is because of the changes in our body, environmental factors and stress. Still, these problems can reach a certain limit when we find that our work begins to suffer and we are becoming clumsier or losing our desire to do things at all. It may be that we are experiencing a prolonged period of sleep deprivation which is the result of an actual disorder. Diagnosing this disorder can be very hard without the help of a doctor to...
Prescription Sleep Aids
Everyone wants a good night of sleep that is complete and uninterrupted. This is actually one of the more important necessities that our body needs in order to survive and keep pace with the ever-changing world. Sometimes, if we can't get the sleep we need prescription sleep aids can help us to get back on track.
Sleep enables your body to gain its strength back and to rejuvenate itself. If you get too stressed out or enter into a restless stage of your life, a goodnight's sleep may be hard...
| | Click here to see More Articles by Gary M. Miller
|
| Articles In LimeLight | Plumbing Design As A Career
By Michelle Bery Added on Thursday, May 1, 2008
How To Drive More Traffic To Your Website
By Alex Rich Added on Monday, April 28, 2008
List Building And Making Profits
By Tellman H. Knudson Added on Monday, April 28, 2008
Need Help Transfering Music To Your PSP?
By Marcus Rolland Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Universal Life Insurance | Different Forms Of Life Insurance Policies Available Nowadays
By Donald Carmin Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Azteca Legend (black) Skill Stop Machine: A Critical Review
By Brian Garvin And Jeff West Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A Course In Hypnosis - Join And Become Skilled In The Art
By Bertil Hjert Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Getting Paid On Time - 7 Tips For Every Small Business
By Tara Roitman Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Make Your House Enviable With Split Air Conditioner
By Roberto Sedycias Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Can You Cheat Online Roulette Using Software?
By Karl Aage Isaksen Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Why You Have To Listen First And Speak Later In Second Language Learning
By Douglas Bower Added on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Fantastic Boat And Bike Cruises In Holland
By Thijs Hodde Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Home Loans For People With Very Bad Credit - Improve Your Chances Of Getting Approved
By Carrie Reeder Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pitch Shot - Get It Close High Or Low
By Brad Myers Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
How To Treat Fingernail Fungus Infection
By Darren W - Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Mens Jewelry - We Call It "Bling"
By Jason Tye Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Qualities In Horse Racing Systems That Matter
By Delrick Mckay Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
How To Prune Rose Bushes Properly
By K. Finch Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Getting Rid Of Mildew On Your Roses
By K. Finch Added on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Credit Repair: Statute Of Limitation Tips
By Jim Kemish Added on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
|
| |
| About Author Gary M. Miller : |
|
Over 70 Million people in the USA suffer from some kind of Sleep Disorder! There are actually hundreds of ways to improve your sleep but the first thing that is needed is to raise more awareness! If you want to sleep better tonight , you can visit this information Sleep Aid Web Site that is packed with FREE information: http://www.Sleep-Aid-Solutions.com
| |
|