As humans, we all have needs that should be satisfied as we go through our lives. Food and water are considered as basic necessities, since they are needed for immediate survival. According to research you can live up to three weeks without food and sustenance, but only three days without water. Learn more about this here. These needs should be replenished immediately if you do not want to die of thirst and starvation. Next is shelter and clothing, both protectors from the natural elements. These things provide warmth, comfort and stability as we continue to thrive through the heat, cold and wind.
However, there is one need that is less talked about when discussing these other needs: sleep or rest.
Sleep is a rather common activity but still considered as a mystery by many people. Why do we need it and why does it need to be at night? Is there a limit or ideal time to be asleep? What is going to happen if we do not get enough sleep? Is there anything that you can do or use if you cannot sleep at night? These questions are very common amongst the people and this article can hopefully help in answering them. Also, we can try helping you in finding solutions for your sleep problems.
So what is sleep?
Technically, sleep is the state of a person in a temporary stasis. While sleeping, all of the body’s functions slow down but the brain’s activity is still ongoing. This process lets the body regroup and revitalize all of the lost energy during the day. The nutrients that you have collected throughout the day are also redistributed while you are sleeping. In this case, you also grow and develop as you sleep. These processes also promote the strengthening of your immune system as rest reinvigorates your other systems. As for the reason why we actually sleep, no one knows for sure. There are many theories surrounding sleep, but one fact remains: we need sleep to rest and recuperate our whole body.
Duration and Time of Sleep
According to old wives’ tales, the ideal time of sleeping is 8 hours. However, just like the drinking 8 glasses of water myth, there is no exact appropriate duration for sleep. As long as you feel rested the next day, you already had enough sleep no matter the length of your sleep time. Genetics plays a role in these situations as your lineage can actually determine if you are a long or short time sleeper. Your own habits also play into your sleep schedule. If you consider yourself as a night owl, chances are you also sleep longer than those who do not consider themselves as such.
As for sleeping at night, it is a known fact that our senses slow down while we sleep. As the eyes act as one of our main tool in sleep and wakefulness, it receives the light and sends signals to our brain to wake up. If the eyes cannot receive this kind of signal, then it tells the brain to sleep and rest. Also, circadian rhythm or our biological clock tells us when we should sleep. It is a pattern of our own sleep-wake schedule. Once this is disrupted, you may experience certain conditions like jet lag especially when travelling to places with different time zones.
If I Have Sleep Problems, What Do I Do?
Having sleep problems is so much more common than you think. According to www.sciencedaily.com, almost one fourth of Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Read the article here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180605154114.htm.
Not all of them develop into full blown sleep disorders, but this is already alarming. It is rather unhealthy to see people suffering from any kind of sleep deprivation as it affects all aspects of their daily life. There are also many complications that are tied with lack of sleep as your immunes system can be compromised.
One of the solutions that you may consider are sleep medications. These are usually prescription drugs taken orally to help induce sleep. Most of these medicines should be taken with doctor’s prescription as overdose could be fatal. One of the most common sleeping medications is Modafinil. It is a synthetic drug also sold under the name Provigil. It helps you in repairing your sleep cycle by inducing sleep when you need it. Aside from its sleep-related effects, it can also be a memory enhancer although this still needs further research. You can visit sites like ModafinilNow.net to learn more about this drug.
As Modafinil is a synthetic drug, there can be possible side effects. Anxiety and headaches are considered as common problems while taking this drug. It was also considered as a controlled substance and its medical use was just approved in 1998 by the US FDA. This is commonly used by employees who are scheduled in the graveyard shift to avoid sleeping while on duty. Even the Air Force can only use this drug during dire situations. However, it has helped a lot of lives as they try to fix and have a healthier sleep schedule. Its tolerance is also still disputed by the medical community. Therefore, it is not overly addicting especially if you are using the right amount of dosage.
As with any kind of medication, always approach a doctor before taking in any kind of drug. If you have sleep problems, always consider to visit sleep psychologist or physician. They can assess your problems and even help you make a plan in dealing with your sleep schedule. These doctors and physicians can also prescribe you with medications like Modafinil to help you further in fixing your sleep.
To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.
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