And Then There are More Sleeping Facts to Make You Think!
In a previous blog post, we share several interesting sleeping facts but because we found there were so many we decided to include even more in a second instalment.
So here they are...
Dysania is when you have difficulty in getting out of bed in the morning
Dysania is a long-term feeling that you’re unable to get out of bed, and even when you do, all you want is to go back to sleep. It could be a sign of depression, chronic fatigue syndrome as well as thyroid disorders (among other health issues) so it would obviously be wise to have this checked out by your doctor.
The Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) is released at night
There is a reason why most of us don't usually need to use the bathroom at night as often as we might during the day. And the reason is that during the night, and as we sleep, our body increases its production of a hormone called vasopressin, or antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This sends a signal to our kidneys to keep absorbing and recycling water, preventing both hydration and the creation of urine. However, some water does pass through to the bladder, slowly filling it up and causing some people to need to urinate at least once during the night.
Can it be dangerous to wake up a sleepwalker?
If you have a sleepwalker in the family, you might be worried that if you wake them up during a sleepwalk, it could cause harm. Apparently, it is not dangerous - and they could well be in greater danger while walking around the house while still asleep. Try to ease them back to bed gently while assuring their safety.
Babies need more sleep than the rest of us
According to guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, babies should get between twelve and sixteen hours of sleep per day to allow their brains and bodies to develop.
Humans spend one third of their lives sleeping
While adults don't need as much sleep as babies and young children, they still spend one third of their lives sleeping or attempting to do so. Ideally, the average person sleeps for eight hours every night. While it might be considered a bit of a waste of time, it is necessary to spend one third of our lives sleeping in order to enjoy the other two-thirds of our life!
The five stages of sleep
The Sleep Foundation tells us that there are five stages of sleep. After the initial stage of awakeness, NREM (non rapid eye movement) sleep is divided into three stages – N1 (falling asleep), N2 (light sleep), and N3 (slow-wave sleep) – which are followed by the REM (rapid eye movement) stage. When you fall asleep at night, you cycle through these four stages in 90-minute or so intervals.What are parasomnias?
These are various disorders that cause people to do things while sleeping, such as sleepwalking and sleep-talking. There are also rarer variations like sleep sex and sleep eating which can be serious issues which might need to be addressed.
Sleep improves your memory
The fear of sleep is called somniphobia
Regular exercise will help you to sleep more easily and soundly
Of course we know that working out and exercise comes with a whole host of health benefits but it is also beneficial for sleep, helping you to fall asleep more quickly while improving your sleep quality too. But timing is important as exercising close to bedtime could interfere with sleep. For example, aerobic exercise causes the body to release endorphins that can keep you awake while exercise elevates the core body temperature signally to your body that it is time to be awake!
Hypersomnia is the habit of excessive sleeping
And is an actual disorder. This condition means a person has trouble staying awake. The disorder could refer to excessive daytime sleepiness or too much time spent sleeping. It may even occur after long stretches of sleep, with people who have it being able to sleep at any time and place. People with hypersomnia will often have difficulty functioning throughout the day because they lack concentration and energy due to tiredness.
Spending a lot of time flying could affect your sleep quality
Those who fly regularly - for example: pilots, plane crews and business people, could be at a greater risk of sleep deprivation because flying at high altitudes leads to disturbance in our sleep due to the lack of oxygen which in turn contributes to a condition known as Cheyne Stokes or high-altitude periodic breathing (PB). This can lead to several sleep disturbances and conditions, as well as a decrease in total time and quality of sleep.
A final word!
It remains as important as ever to ensure you have sufficient and good quality sleep to provide essential support for your immune system. In addition, when we sleep, our body produces and releases the protein cytokines, which helps fight off viruses and infections.
And you can ensure that by including Sleep Aid Formula in your night time routine...
Massage one or two drops of our Sleep Aid Formula on temples and back of neck thirty minutes before bedtime. If you wake up during the night, just reapply one or two drops. The ingredients in the Formula are soothing and will relax you and aid in sleeping so you can enjoy a good night's rest safely and naturally. While the the Formula will help from the first time it is used, sleep will progressively continue to improve with ongoing use.
SOURCES:
What is insomnia? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/inso#. (Accessed, Feb 11, 2021).
Insomnia fact sheet. WomensHealth.gov. http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/insomnia.html. (Accessed, Feb 11, 2021).
Sleep-wake disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. http://www.psychiatryonline.org. (Accessed, Feb 11, 2021).
Sleep disorders: The connection between sleep and mental health. National Alliance on Mental Health. http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Related-Conditions/Sleep-Disorders. (Accessed, Feb 11, 2021).
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.