The Science Of Sleep: What Sweet Dreams Are Made Of

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/lifestyle/health/the-science-of-sleep-what-sweet-dreams-are-made-of/ar-BB18U8go?ocid=msedgdhp

 Jan Cortes


For a lot of people, there’s nothing better than crashing into the bed after a long, hard day at work and finally getting to sleep.  


It is, after all, the best way for us to rest, and having the proper amount of sleep every night can help us be our best self,  helping make us healthier without us even knowing it.


And in addition to helping our body relax and recover, it also plays a housekeeping role by removing all the toxins that has built up on your brain while you are awake. It also affects just about any type of tissue and system in our bodies, be it our lungs, brain or heart, helping them resist disease, metabolize, provide proper immune function and regulate our mood level.


As such, you wouldn’t be able to form (or maintain) the pathways in your brain that are needed in order to help create memories and retain them if you don’t get sleep. This makes you slower, harder to concentrate and generally less quicker to respond. You would feel sluggish, exhausted and tired, and the only way to remedy this is by getting the correct amount of sleep, which experts say is about eight hours every night.


But what happens when we lose sleep? As per research, lots of things, all of which are negative. For example, getting poor quality sleep ,or losing a lot of it for extended periods of time, results in being irritable and unproductive.


And if you’re having trouble dozing off to dreamland, then here are some tips to help you rest better:


Exercise – Do this for 20 to 30 minutes a day, a few hours before getting into bed.
Set a schedule that you can follow consistently.
Relax before bed, such as by taking a warm bath or even some side reading.
Avoid any caffeine or nicotine late in the day.
Don’t lie awake in bed. If you find it hard to sleep, occupy yourself with something else until you get tired.