Summary: The Benefits Of Sleep

From the time children are able to understand words they are taught they require a certain amount of hours of sleep. The science of sleep can be traced back to the early 1600’s. Doctors will argue that sleep is the most important thing a person needs after food and water. Scientists have done extensive research on the benefits of sleep, but still the question remains on why is sleep necessary? Unfortunately, it is not a question with a simple answer. The absence of a concrete answer to this stimulating question does not mean that this research has been a waste of time. In fact, scientists and doctors now know much more about the purpose of sleep, and have established several encouraging theories to explain what happens to our bodies with lack …show more content…
There is a natural cycle during sleep that occurs. Studies have concluded there are two major types of sleep, REM sleep and NON REM sleep. These two phases are very different in features. Human sleep works in a separate and special pattern. In the Article “Sleep: The pattern of life” June J. Pilcher explains the differences between REM and NON REM sleep. “In REM sleep, several things happen very quickly. The brain waves transition to fast-frequency waves that are visually very similar to the brain waves seen during wakefulness, suggesting the brain is basically awake. As the name implies, the eyes start to move back and forth rapidly” (Pilcher 15). The author goes on to explain that sleep happens in stages. “Night goes through non-REM sleep and through REM sleep in about ninety minutes. This cycle then repeats every ninety minutes for as long as we remain asleep.” (Pilcher 15). Dreaming normally occurs during the REM stage of sleep. As the night progresses the REM stage of sleep increases and towards the end of your sleep you might have REM sleep for almost an hour. As people age deep sleep stages will decrease, as Pilcher mentions in his writing.” Unfortunately, sleep often changes as we get older, and can become more fragmented and have less slow wave sleep and more Stage 1 and Stage 2 sleep.” (Pilcher 15). It is also said to be true that younger adults and children require more sleep, hence as the human gets older the less sleep …show more content…
Sleep deprivation has become common among over worked students and adults in the United states, the consequences however are staggering. In” Why do we need sleep? Relating theory to Nursing Practice” Linda A Hodgson explains how sleep deprivation relates to what happens in the human body. “fall in body temperature and less efficient temp regulation. slight changes m cardiovascular and respiratory function, slight hormonal changes which may be related to stress, changes in control of eye movements, and musculature involved with accommodation and convergence” (Hodgson 1506). Also a patient might be suffering from physical problems that can also effect sleep. As Hodgson writes “Conditions which increase intracranial pressure, or alter central nervous system physiology, are particularly liable to affect sleep adversely Pathologies of the brain stem and hypothalamus and cerebral atrophy may disrupt sleep.” (Hodgson