Why do we sleep?

Hey guys, I would like to expound my study on the common topic yet mostly ignored. After experiencing all my life, I have realized that to lead a healthy, fit and happy life all you need is 8 hours of SLEEP. So simple, but ask yourself if you really get to sleep 8 hours straight.

Our Brain has a biological clock Circadian rhythm which regulates the periods of tiredness and wakefulness during the 24-hour cycle.

Second, Adenosine a natural drug inside our brains that acts as a central nervous system depressant. The levels of Adenosine in the brain rise each hour and when its at peak, you tend to sleep practically it promotes sleep.

What happens after you sleep?

First, NREM(Non-rapid eye movement) – Brain stores the daily activities that you see, hear and experience during this time. Basically sends these information to Cortex where infinite data can be stored.

Second, REM(Rapid eye movement) – This cycle is fascinating as this is the time where your brain creates dreams. To put it simple what brain does is nothing but link your present day’s memory to your past memory which creates imaginary scenes that we term as dream.

Please note that these two movements play a important role in brain’s development and its efficiency in future. Understand the fact that from childhood to teenage our brain is in development stage and that’s why we are not mature enough to act on certain things.

Coming to adult stage, we can’t deny the fact that we don’t sleep enough due to our lifestyle. How we do this ?? here’s the culprit >> Caffeine

It is said that even after 5 hours of consuming Caffeine, your brain contains some proportion of caffeine that ignores the signal from our mighty Circadian rhythm and Adenosine.

Second mistake >> Alcohol – It is true that we sleepy after consuming alcohol irrespective of the brand…lol.. but the fact is we don’t really sleep, instead our body gets paralyzed just like the affect of anesthesia. This is the reason we hardly remember anything that happened the other night. Moreover REM or NREM doesn’t really happen during this period so basically nothing gets stored in this time.

Please note that when you cross the age of 60, your brain activity reduces and your sleep will be affected multiple times because of bladder inefficiency and majorly missing NREM cycle day by day. This is the reason people over the age of 70 don’t remember everything.

Loss of sleep>> No rational thinking>> Decrease in memory power>> Low immunity>> High blood pressure>> low sex drive

SOLUTION::

1. Avoid bright lights 2 hours before sleep specially Smartphones.
2. Reduce intake of Caffeine and Alcohol.
3. Never use ALARM to wake yourself up. That’s a attack button for your Brain.
4. Schedule your time of sleep. I know it is difficult, but trust me within 2 or 3 days your Brain will adjust to the timing and you will know it.
5. Consume less food at night.
6. Take bath at night before sleep.

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