How Sleep Works
We spend a third of our lives asleep, so you’d think we’d know a lot about it. But sleep is a bit of a mystery. We don’t really know why we need it, but we do know that it’s essential for survival.
Sleep is a complex biological process that is vital to our health and well-being. It is a state of reduced consciousness from which we can be aroused.
There are two main types of sleep: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and NREM (non-REM) sleep.
REM sleep is when we dream. Our eyes move rapidly from side to side and our brain activity is high.
NREM sleep is divided into three stages: N1, N2, and N3. N1 is the lightest stage of sleep, N2 is a little deeper, and N3 is the deepest stage of sleep.
We cycle through REM and NREM sleep several times throughout the night.
The Ideal Sleep Hours
How much sleep do we need? It depends on our age.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults (18-64 years) sleep 7-9 hours per night.
Teenagers (14-17 years) need 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
Children (6-13 years) need 9-11 hours of sleep per night.
Preschoolers (3-5 years) need 10-13 hours of sleep per night.
Infants (0-2 years) need 11-14 hours of sleep per night.
The amount of sleep we need decreases as we get older. Seniors (65 years and older) need 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
Reasons People Wake Up Throughout the Night
There are many reasons why people wake up during the night. It could be due to stress, anxiety, or noise in the environment. It could also be due to physical discomforts, such as pain, hunger, or the need to go to the bathroom. Certain medications can also cause wakefulness. And, of course, there are always the occasional nightmares and night terrors.
There are a few things you can do to try to reduce the number of times you wake up during the night.
1. Establish a regular sleep schedule and stick to it as much as possible.
2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine.
3. Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.
4. Limit your caffeine intake and avoid drinking alcohol before bed.
If you can’t fall back asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something calming until you feel sleepy again.
Sleep is essential for our health and well-being, but it can be elusive at times. By following these tips, you can help improve the quality and quantity of your sleep.
