10 Things You Don’t Know About Sleep

A lot has been said and re-said about something as simple as sleep. The beauty of it is that sleep is defined as a naturally recurring state. And yet a lot of people tend to underestimate the importance of sleep at their peril. This article will outline 10 important and fun facts about sleep that will make you perk up your ears and respect the sleep your body demands of you.

Fact Check

You know that you sleep. Even a child understands that they sleep. But the question that captures the attention is why you have to sleep. Why can you not just skip the whole process of sleeping and do something fun or important at that time? After all, time is in short supply for most people today. This fact checklist will help you to understand why you should not skimp on sleep or take it that lightly or simply some fun facts that you did not know about sleep.

1. Weight Gain: As per Mayo Clinic, lack of sleep can and will make you gain weight. This is one of the most important repercussions of sleeplessness. All that dieting and exercising will not help when you do not give your body does not get adequate rest. This is because sleeping less affects the hormones responsible for regulating hunger and appetite. These are:
   1. Leptin
   2. Ghrelin
   3. Further sleeping less will also make you feel tired and reduce your physical activity, which in turn will make you gain weight.
2. Brain Activity: You most probably think that when you sleep, your brain sleeps as well. This is true for half of your brain. The other parts of your brain stay awake to keep you protected through the night. While asleep, the other half becomes more alert and sensitive to your surroundings than when you are awake, as confirmed by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
3. Wallet: Sleep has a positive effect on your wallet, as well. Sleep improves your mental faculties, attention span, and boosts memory. All these combined increases your productivity. Studies have found that sleeping just one hour extra weekly can increase your wages by thousands of dollars.
4. Mattress and Pillows: What you sleep on matters a great deal. It is very difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep when your mattress and pillows are not comfortable. Studies suggest that a medium-firm mattress is ideal for sleeping. However, that is just a recommendation. If you prefer sleeping on a soft feather mattress, then go for that instead.
5. Memory: Sleep boosts your long term memory skills. It helps the information to stick in your brain. As you sleep, the hippocampus and neocortex communicate with each other to replay the day’s events and store it. This converts short term memory to long term memory. Studies link good night’s rest with a reduction in the chances of developing Alzheimer’s.
6. Seven is Heaven: Research shows that an average adult requires a minimum of 7 hours of sleep. This will keep you in your top form, cogitatively and behaviorally. Remember, too little or even too much sleep can confuse and disturb the synchrony of your body, leading to a host of problems like illness, temperamental issues, etc.
7. Diet Matters: What you eat goes a long way in determining how well you sleep. A healthy, nutritious diet full of essential carbohydrates, proteins, and fibers will ensure that you get the best quality sleep you can. So skip the donut and reach for some salad instead.
8. Gender Issue: Yup, it is true. If you are a woman, you need more sleep than your partner. Research confirms that, on average, women need about 20 to 60 minutes of more snooze time than men. This is because women tend to multi-task more and use more brainpower than men. This gives a perfect excuse to get your share bedtime teas instead of making it.
9. Cold and Sniffles: Hate getting a cold or having a running nose? Catch up to those shut-eye hours. Sleep boosts your immunity and keeps you from falling prey to frequent colds and coughs.
10. Brain Cleaning: Sleep effectively cleans away all the toxins from your brain. This ensures your brain is working optimally and keeps diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s at bay.

Q&A Round

After reading through the important and fun things about sleep, you might have a few questions in your mind. Some of them are discussed below.

What Is the Most Important Factor Regarding Sleep?

All things and effects of sleep considered the most important role of sleep is in keeping your mental and physical health in harmony. A good part of how you feel both mentally and physically depends upon the sleep you have had the night before. Even one night of restless sleep or sleep deprivation is enough to throw your body and mood out of gear.

Why Are Sleep Facts Important?

Sleep facts are simply information about sleep in a concise fashion or bullet points. This information is important to educate people about the need for sleep and the role it plays in your health, both physical and mental. The sleep facts provide knowledge about things like:

• The amount of sleep required by the body
• Diseases and illnesses associated with sleep deprivation
• Impact of sleep on immunity

Can You Die Due to Sleep Deprivation?

There is no research linking human death to sleep deprivation. However, a study established this link in rats.

When Was Sleep Invented?

Sleep is a natural recurring biological function. However, the concept of sleep was introduced in the medical community by Dr. Nathaniel Kleitman when he began studying sleep cycle regulation and the circadian rhythm of the body in Chicago in the early 1920s. For this reason, Dr. Nathaniel Klietman is also referred to as the “Father of American Sleep Research.”

Bottom Line

Sleep is one of the most important biological functions of your body. The effects of sleep are as prominent as the effects of food and water. Sleep deprivation will harm your body and make its presence felt in much the same way as a lack of food or water. Hence pull the blinds close, turn off the lights, tuck in into those covers, and get that sleep covered. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you for it.