Sleep is Essential for Health (1)

Sleep is like plugging your body into its own built-in charger. It replenishes your depleted energy levels and gives you enough charge or energy to do what you need to do in your waking hours.

 

Though, much like a mobile phone that hasn’t fully recharged and cuts off in mid-call, if you don’t sleep enough, you can run out of energy way too soon. How much you sleep affects every action you perform that requires energy and a lack thereof can even affect your outward appearance. So, your nightly session on “charge” shouldn’t be taken lightly and since we spend roughly a third of our lives doing it, why not try to get the best out of it?

 

 

The importance of sleep (1, 2)

We all need to make sure we get the right amount of sleep, and enough good quality sleep. There is no set amount of sleep that is appropriate for everyone; some people need more sleep than others. So, it’s not just about how much you sleep, it’s also about how well you sleep. Sleep is a necessity to maintain your physical and mental health as it is necessary for the brain to recover and regenerate. During sleep the brain processes information and strengthens memory – that is why it is better to get a good night’s sleep before an exam or an important day at work.

 

Melatonin – The Sleep Hormone (3)

Melatonin is a hormone synthesised and secreted by the pineal gland in the brain and has been linked scientifically to regulating sleep which in turn boosts the immune system and helps maintain a better mood and quality of life.

 

Our bodies have a built-in clock – or circadian rhythm – that regulates our sleep cycles, and this controls how much melatonin your body secretes. Under normal circumstances, melatonin levels go up in the mid- to late evening and stay up most of the night. They then drop again in the early morning.

 

As we get older, our natural melatonin levels slowly decrease, which is why a supplement may sometimes be needed to get a good night’s rest – especially if you are an older adult suffering from insomnia.

 

Regulation of sleep (3, 4)

When we sleep, our bodies go into a pattern that we call “sleep architecture” – our own personal blueprint that navigates our way through the sleeping world. We alternate between REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep throughout the night in a cycle that repeats roughly every 90 minutes. This architecture, which is regulated by melatonin, determines when we will fall asleep, how long we’ll sleep and when we’ll wake up.

 

 

5 sleep-wake cycles per night (3)

 

As adults, our sleep cycle is an ever-changing pattern. The sleep-wake cycle is regulated by two things – how tired you are and your circadian (biological) clock.

 

Sleep isn’t always at the top of our list of things to do as other waking priorities seem to take precedence, but it’s important to get the best out of the hours you have to sleep, and understanding your sleep cycle is a good start. As you shuffle, every 90 – 110 minutes or so, between non-REM sleep and REM sleep, your body goes through phases of rest and recovery. This process may be repeated up to 5 times over the course of a single night and comprises the following stages:

Insomnia (5)

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder, where you’ll find it difficult to fall asleep or to stay asleep. It’s a great source of frustration for millions of people that can lead to decreased energy levels, general fatigue, decreased concentration, negative moods and decreased performance in your daily life. If you are generally averaging six or fewer hours a night of sleep, and take half an hour or more to fall asleep when you get into bed, it’s possible that you might have some level of insomnia.

How to prevent health burden? (5)

he greatest gift you can give yourself and your loved ones is a healthy you. Take care of your body and focus on living the highest quality of life you can through your daily choices.

At Acino, we have longstanding knowledge which we want to share with you. Explore our materials to raise your awareness, and make decisions to stay healthy and improve your quality of life.


 

References

  1. Dijk DJ, Landolt HP. Sleep Physiology, Circadian Rhythms, Waking Performance and the Development of Sleep-Wake Therapeutics. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2019;253:441-481. doi: 10.1007/164_2019_243. PMID: 31254050.
  2. Buysse DJ. Sleep health: can we define it? Does it matter? Sleep. 2014 Jan 1;37(1):9-17. doi: 10.5665/sleep.3298. PMID: 24470692; PMCID: PMC3902880.
  3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Brain basics: Understanding sleep. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved April 9, 2025, Available from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep (last accessed 9.04.2025)
  4. Bailey GA, Hubbard EK, Fasano A, Tijssen MA, Lynch T, Anderson KN, Peall KJ. Sleep disturbance in movement disorders: insights, treatments and challenges. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2021 Jul;92(7):723-736. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-325546. Epub 2021 Mar 19. PMID: 33741740.
  5. Dopheide JA. Insomnia overview: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and monitoring, and nonpharmacologic therapy. Am J Manag Care. 2020 Mar;26(4 Suppl):S76-S84. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2020.42769. PMID: 32282177.

 

 

 

Last update: April 2025

 

GLO – CNS – 04/2025-04