SLEEP
Val B
Why we should learn a lesson from Sleeping Beauty
What Exactly is Sleep?
Sleeping is a period of rest in which the person is unconscious to the outside world, they can however, be woken up with certain stimuli which differentiates them from those who are in a coma or have fainted.
Why is Sleep important?
Sleep is important because it rejuvenates you and provides you energy. From an evolutionary standpoint, it protects us from predators during the night hours.
How does Sleep Work?
Your hypothalamus recognizes the changes in light and dark in the environment and when it is night changes the levels of hormones in the body to trigger a sleep state
Melatonin is a hormone which regulates the rhythms in the body. Melatonin has been linked to the sleep/ wake cycle. The levels of melatonin increase at night and decrease during the morning hours which decreases our desire to sleep.
Sleep Deprivation
What happens when you don't get enough sleep?
- You will most likely be irritable throughout the day
- Concentration and accuracy with tasks will be negatively affected
- Your body will miss the important period of recuperation which keeps you alive
- Sleep reduces energy consumption so that we only need 3 meals per day, when lacking sleep the opposite is true, you will be hungrier and increase food consumption
- You will have reduced immunity and increased sickness
Sleep Schedules
How much sleep is enough?
There are many factors which contribute to the amount of sleep you need but on average the National Sleep Foundation recommends the following
If I'm not getting enough sleep how can I improve?
- Exercise!
- Avoid caffeine after 4pm
- Don't drink alcohol before bed
- Put electronic devices away half an hour before you plan on falling asleep
- Keep a regular sleep pattern
Works Cited
Information
Images
Sleeping Beauty
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-_5ZFpOP9U/T-CgZ2Vz-7I/AAAAAAAAAc8/bM-MVt7xm_0/s1600/sleeping-beauty.jpg
http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/sleep-stages.gif
Dangers of sleep infographic
http://res.mindbodygreen.com/img/ftr/TheDangersofSleepDeprivation_BIG-850x1943.jpg
How much sleep chart
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/sites/default/files/how_much_large.jpg