You’ve tossed and turned and flipped over your pillow. But you’re still wide awake hours later. Insomnia has a wide range of definitions; some people can’t fall asleep, some don’t get enough restful sleep, others can’t stay asleep and some wake up too early. Sleep disorders include both the quantity and quality of sleep.
Insomnia Increases With Age and Stress
Almost 40% of adults have problems with insomnia. The rate of insomnia increases with age and women are more susceptible than men. Insomnia isn’t a disease; it is however, an indication that something isn’t right. There are many causes including stress, irregular sleep patterns, depression, changes in work shifts, eating and nutrition habits, sleep apnea (snoring) and some illnesses.
Trying to catch up on lost sleep by napping or sleeping in on the weekends may help only temporarily or even increase episodes of insomnia. Sleeping too much or taking unnecessary naps during the day can cause fitful sleep at night. This does not provide the deep, restful sleep needed to recharge the body and prevent fatigue.
Sleep patterns and needs vary with individuals and ages. Most adults need between eight to ten hours of sleep each night, though some can get by on six. Elderly people may sleep less at night or require naps during the day. Generally, if you wake up refreshed and are not sleepy during the day, you’re likely getting the right amount and quality of sleep.
Insomnia Causes Illness
How important is sleep? Vitally important: A study by the National Institute of Mental Health in Maryland, found that rats which were completely deprived of sleep died in only a few weeks. The findings showed that sleep deprivation had made the rats vulnerable to bacteria that they were normally exposed to. The bacteria usually did not cause disease because with adequate sleep, the immune system was efficient at eliminating them.
While we sleep, our bodies work proficiently to regenerate our cells, eliminate wastes and circulate hormones and nutrients. There's a reason doctors recommended bed-rest to fight a cold or flu: it allows our body's immune system to strengthen and produce infection-fighters. This is also explains why we get the sniffles or a scratchy throat during exams and when we work too much. Good rest also promotes faster recovery from injury and illness, reduces stress and increases brain function.
Why a Good Night's Sleep is Healthier Than Day-Time Snoozing
How do our bodies know when to sleep and why is night time sleep far more restorative than sleeping during the day? As night falls, fading daylight strikes the retinas in the eyes, which sends a signal to a bundle of nerve cells in the brain called the circadian clock. Our ‘clock’ then sends more messages to the rest of the body, telling it to prepare for rest. Our circadian clock is located in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which is also responsible for melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that lowers body temperature, causing increased drowsiness. This explains why we feel the need to snooze longer in the autumn and winter months: longer hours of darkness cause more melatonin production, which makes us sleepy.
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