7 Cool Things The Body Does In Deep Sleep
Deep, restful sleep is essential for good health. When rest is insufficient or interrupted, health problems can develop. So what happens in our body when we sleep?
One of the main needs of our body is to sleep every day, for at least 8 hours. During the hours of sleep, the body repairs itself. He renews his energies to face a new day with the best physical and mental dispositions.
What few people know is that during this phase the body performs very interesting actions. These actions affect the quality of sleep and general health. Below we reveal all the things that happen while you are in a deep sleep. You will be surprised !
1. Eye movement increases during deep sleep
It is estimated that we go through 5 stages during the sleep cycle. The last step is the deepest: we know it as MOR (Rapid Eye Movement). It is characterized by continuous movement of the eyes and the appearance of dreams.
According to this WebMD post , we reach this milestone approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep. It should correspond to 20% of total sleep. This publication also suggests that the movement of the eyes is due to the fact that the brain is more active.
2. Growth hormone is produced
One of the reasons it is important to get a good quality of sleep is because the body is secreting certain hormones at this time, such as HGH (or growth hormone).
As the Mayo Clinic explains, growth hormone is responsible for stimulating the growth of babies and children and, more importantly, helps maintain tissues and organs throughout life.
3. The kidneys must update during deep sleep
During the active day, the kidneys work to filter toxins from the blood and to produce urine. During the period of sleep, this work is slower and the production of urine is then less important.
This explains why we don’t necessarily need to go to the bathroom at night and that in the early morning urine is usually darker. According to this animal study published on Nature Communications, the connexin43 protein is the protein responsible for giving the kidneys a circadian clock which controls their capacity and which is less important during the day.
4. Teeth grind
This strange symptom known as bruxism can be the product of stress or improper alignment of the teeth. An affected person experiences pain in the jaw and suffers from dental complications.
Although there are no conclusive studies on the subject yet, it seems that bruxism manifests itself more frequently during the night because, when we sleep soundly, we are not able to stop an involuntary reflex in the body. .
5. Sudden movements
All human beings know this reflex which occurs during the deepest phase of sleep. We experience a sudden jump or a strong jerk. Although this experience can be unpleasant at times, it should not be a cause for concern.
According to this study from the Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice , there are several theories about involuntary movements, but none of them are conclusive. One of them, however, suggests that it is a defense mechanism of the brain, because the latter associates the total relaxation of the body with a fall, hence the contraction of the muscles.
6. The brain rejects what it does not need
The brain accumulates a quantity of toxins during the day which it gets rid of during the night during the cleansing process. During this process, mental fatigue improves and energy is renewed for a new day.
This MedTube Science post explains that some studies have linked deep sleep to the elimination of toxins from the brain via a channel (glymphatic system) that functions as a waste elimination pathway.
7. Deep sleep and sleep paralysis
This phenomenon occurs during the deepest phase of sleep and is characterized by an annoying feeling of bodily stillness during a cycle where we are not aware that we are dreaming. It is a phenomenon that is terrifying, because it is often accompanied by terrible nightmares in which we fail to react to escape.
Although there is no conclusive information on the specific causes behind this phenomenon, this publication from the National Health Service suggests the following risk factors:
- insomnia
- interrupted sleep
- narcolepsy (falling asleep suddenly)
- post-traumatic stress
- general anxiety
- anxiety attacks
- family history of sleep paralysis
Sleeping well is synonymous with good health
Sleeping well, a regular exercise routine and a balanced diet are the three pillars of a healthy lifestyle.
Good quality sleep improves focus, creativity, fitness, and symptoms associated with stress and anxiety.
It is important to keep in mind that if the sleep disturbances persist, it is best to see a doctor.
