The Importance of Sleep
Most people have experienced the benefits of a good night’s sleep, from feeling more energetic and ready to tackle the day to improving their mental performance and decision making. But the importance of sleep extends well beyond a boost in energy and a refreshed outlook to actually repairing cells on a cellular level, strengthening key systems that help fight disease and improve fitness, and providing vital growth and repair processes for the body and brain. Sadly, many of these essential functions are compromised by inadequate sleep, which is a leading contributor to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety and stress, and even some cancers.
The human body’s natural rhythm, reflected by the circadian clock, shifts to favor sleep during biological night. During sleep, the brain and other body systems power down and stop most of their activities. As a result, the body conserves and stores energy. It also releases stored toxins and replenishes its supply of amino acids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, hormones and hormone precursors.
During sleep, the brain organizes and consolidates the memories and experiences of the day, turning short-term memories into long-term ones and helping us to learn. This is one of the reasons that learning and performance in school, work and other activities is significantly reduced if we are not getting enough sleep.
On the cellular level, sleep repairs and strengthens the immune system, muscle tissue and other organs. This helps the body to fight infection, recover from injuries, and adapt to environmental changes. Adequate sleep also helps support normal cognitive development during childhood and adolescence, as well as healthy emotional and social behaviors.
While the benefits of a good night’s rest are widely known, sleep is often considered a luxury rather than an essential part of health and wellness. As such, it is easy to overlook the impact that poor-quality or insufficient sleep has on our quality of life, from mood and mental health to physical health and long-term productivity and performance.
The science of sleep has evolved rapidly over the past century. Thanks to pioneering research conducted by UChicago professor Nathaniel Kleitman, who developed the first laboratory devoted to studying sleep and wakefulness, scientists now have a detailed understanding of the various stages that make up the full sleep cycle. These stages, called non-REM and REM sleep, are identified by changes in brain activity, and characterized by the type of electrical signals that are being sent between neurons. This information can be used to identify specific problems that may be preventing people from getting adequate sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea or sleep-related breathing disorders. Fortunately, modern medicine can offer treatments that can help. Taking advantage of these advances can help ensure that everyone gets the amount of restful sleep they need to feel their best.