Sleep is one very essential requirement to achieve good health. Sleep may seem like an automatic activity but in reality sleep it does not come quickly. Every night when we sleep in our beds, we essentially undergo five different stages of sleep.
The first stage occurs in the first 5 to 10 minutes of sleep. At this stage, one keeps turning on the bed. The person is not totally asleep at this point so it will not be difficult to wake him or her.
The second stage is when the person is no longer conscious of his or her environment. Breathing and heart rate becomes regular and the body temperature lowers.
The 3rd and 4th stage are the deep sleep stage. At these stages, the body activities slows down. The last stage in the cycle is where the body experiences rapid eye movement also known as the REM stage.
To some, sleeping seems like a waste of time. So they cut short their sleeping hours to let’s say 4 or 5 hours. But sleep promotes one’s well-being and helps preserve good health. The brain needs respite from stress and daily activities. Sleep is the rejuvenating antidote it needs.
People who do not get enough sleep often manifest psychiatric and other health problems. Some people cope with insomnia, a sleeping disorder which prevents one from sleeping.
The amount of sleep a person is required to get daily depends on several factors such as age. Babies often require 15-16 hours of sleep. Young people requires 8-9 hours daily while adults from 7-8 hours of sleep.
Environment is a huge factor that affects sleep at night. This is the most basic requirement. A sleep-inducing environment is important. A good mattress,quiet surroundings, adequate room temperature and other environmental factors are essential to having a sound sleep.A memory foam mattress can be the perfect way to ensure that you get a quality night’s sleep as your body weight is evenly distributed across its surface.
People are also a factor in environment. Having people coming in and out of the room is very distracting and can affect sleeping patterns. If you need to sleep with someone in the room, you also need to consider if they prefer to have lights on or off while sleeping, if they snore or sleep early/late. These could potentially disturb one’s sleep. Possible barriers to sleep should be eradicated to ensure that one gets enough amount of sleeping time.
