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This is the legal drink driving limit in the UK. In fact, 17 hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.05% (two glasses of wine). With continued lack of sufficient sleep, the part of the brain that controls language, memory, planning and sense of time is severely affected, practically shutting down. After just one night without sleep, concentration becomes more difficult and attention span shortens considerably. If you've ever pulled an all-nighter, you'll be familiar with the following after-effects: grumpiness, grogginess, irritability and forgetfulness. Lack of sleep has serious effects on our brain's ability to function. In other words, sleep plays a significant role in brain development.Ī good way to understand the role of sleep is to look at what would happen if we didn't sleep. We have to sleep because it is essential to maintaining normal levels of cognitive skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking. Some believe that sleep gives the body a chance to recuperate from the day's activities but in reality, the amount of energy saved by sleeping for even eight hours is miniscule - about 50 kCal, the same amount of energy in a piece of toast. So why do we sleep? This is a question that has baffled scientists for centuries and the answer is, no one is really sure. Thomas Edison claimed it was waste of time. Generally, if you don’t feel chronically fatigued, you’re probably getting enough sleep.Napoleon, Florence Nightingale and Margaret Thatcher got by on four hours a night. So, it’s important for you to determine the amount of sleep you need to feel well rested. While most experts recommend adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, some people need more, and some people need less. But the truth is that the amount of sleep required for good health and performance differs for everyone. This belief can be so strong it can affect the way someone feels if they don’t get at least eight hours of nightly sleep. Most of us have been taught to believe we need eight hours of sleep each night to get us through the following day. The circadian rhythm can’t be easily reversed, even during periods of shift work or working at night. This automatic routine is called the circadian rhythm. Humans are naturally programmed to be awake during the day and to sleep at night. While it’s common to wake as sleep shifts from one stage to the next, most people fall right back to sleep. Dreams usually occur during the REM stage. During stages one through four, sleep slowly gets deeper and more restful. As sleep progresses, the remaining four stages are experienced. During this first stage of the five stages of sleep, the body and brain are still active. Sleep also helps the brain to function at its peak!Įven with closed eyes, a very relaxed state of wakefulness continues during the initial phase of falling asleep. During sleep, the body restores tissue, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system. Sleep gives the body a chance to recharge itself.

A lack of sleep can also cause memory and physical problems. Too little sleep can result in drowsiness, irritability, and problems concentrating. Sleeping well can help a person cope with stress, solve problems, and get better during an illness or when recovering from an injury. Good quality sleep is critical to a person’s health. How long they sleep heavily influences their readiness.