Eight things you probably did not know about sleep
Sleep is something we all think we know all about. It is not only something we all have in common, it is something we all do at least once a day.
Sleep is something we all think we know all about. It is not only something we all have in common, it is something we all do at least once a day. We wanted to share with you some amusing facts that you probably did not know about sleep.
Do you know that people who sleep on their stomachs have erotic dreams more often? Do you know that you can die without sleep? Also, do you know that you can gain weight if you do not get enough sleep?
We spend a third of our lives in bed. We spend a large part of our lives sleeping without even thinking about it at all. Until we get sick from the lack of sleep. The classic package: fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, bad memory. When we are sleeping, truly crazy things are happening. We are certain you know nothing about them. Not even what they are.
1. Quality sleep for a long and healthy life
Lack of sleep affects our “daily lives”. Each morning we know precisely how we slept. Did you know we can die if we do not sleep at all? Of course, there are no experiments conducted on people to prove it, but unfortunately such experiments have been performed on animals.
The fatal factors in relation to the lack of sleep are the following: low body temperature, extreme stress, organ failure and brain damage. There is also a very rare genetic disorder called fatal familial insomnia, which renders gradually more afflicted persons unable to sleep. The result of that disorder is death within 18 months from the onset of the disease. Why? Because the body and the mind regenerate during sleep. However, science has not yet discovered the exact mechanism thereof.
2. Can we influence our dreams?
The position you sleep in, the food you eat throughout the day and your behaviour may influence your dreams. People who sleep on their stomachs are more prone to erotic dreams, those who sleep on their left side suffer from nightmares more often, while those who sleep on their right side have more pleasant dreams. If we think positive thoughts before going to bed, we will have more pleasant dreams. Even though research shows that we can affect our dreams, we still do not know how or why we dream.
3. Sleep cycle
When you are sleeping, your body and brain go through different phases. In phase 1, your body gradually slows down and you fall into a “light” sleep. In phase 2, your body temperature drops, your heart starts to beat more slowly and you fall into a deeper, but still “light” sleep. During phase 3, you fall into deep sleep, in which brainwaves are slow. It is the phase during which disorders such as sleepwalking and nightmares occur. Phase 4 is REM phase, the deepest phase, in which the brain is very active, and in which you dream. The typical sleep cycle is 1-2-3-2 – REM phase, while phase 2 repeats twice in the course of one night. If phases 3 and 4 are disturbed during sleep, it is very likely that you will feel groggy in the morning.
4. Impact of artificial light on sleep
When we came into existence (as a species), there was neither artificial light nor bedside lamps. We were awakened by dawn, and we went to sleep at dusk. People slept for approximately 12 hours, but they spent 2-3 hours in the night awake! Electric light has only been in existence for a little more than 100 years. Since it was invented, people have been sleeping less. If we include the impact of blue light, i.e. television radiation, tablet devices and smartphones, we sleep less.
5. A night in separate beds
A couple sleeping together is an ideal image when we imagine people in love. However, according to a survey carried out by the National Sleep Foundation, 25% of couples sleep in separate rooms. The reason for sleeping separately is most often snoring, discomfort, different sleep habits or the need for privacy. For some couples, sleeping together is necessary for quality sleep.
6. More sleep for children and teenagers
The standard 7-8 hours per night is valid for adults. However, babies need 15 hours of sleep per day, small children 14 hours, school children 11 hours, and teenagers 9.5 hours of sleep. This is how much they need to sleep so that their brains can develop well and so that they can grow. Studies have shown that people who sleep enough improve faster.
7. A lack of sleep can lead to excess weight
People who sleep for less than 7 hours are more prone to weight gain and diabetes. The less a person sleeps, the greater the chance of becoming obese. When we are tired, we attempt to compensate for the energy lost with an increased food intake. And if we are tired every day, the ponds keep piling up.
8. Risks arising from the lack of sleep
If you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, it may be a bad sign. It means you suffer from a chronic lack of sleep or it can be a symptom of apnoea. It takes, on average, 10-20 minutes for a healthy person to fall asleep. The thing necessary for a healthy sleep is bedroom as your oasis of peace, cleansed of all TV sets, phones and tablet devices.
You also need a good mattress and a comfortable bed.
