Sleep is one of the most important elements of everyday life.
Without sleep, we cannot survive and spend a third of our lives sleeping.
When we sleep, our brain processes information creating our memory. Our body is cleansed of toxins and renewed, which allows us to function properly when we wake up.
It significantly affects health even when the period of insomnia is short. Most people start to "break down" after just one night, and after three our functioning is far from normal.
One study showed that after 17-19 hours without sleep, we perform cognitive tasks like when we drink too much alcohol.
The effects worsen over time. The person who did not sleep for 11 days, which is the longest documented case, had serious cognitive problems, problems with behavior change, concentration and short-term memory, paranoia and hallucinations.
And while scientists have long known how important it is to get enough sleep, it is sometimes easy to overlook the key role that light plays in our lives.
Setting the body clock
Light is important because it adjusts the circadian rhythm, or our body clock, through special light sensors in the eye.
The eye recognizes the changes of light and darkness and adjusts the body's circadian rhythm so that our needs and behaviors coincide with the changes of day and night.
This process is so powerful that people with severe eye injuries can have their body clock disrupted, leading to sleep problems.
Sleep is one of the most important elements of everyday life.
Without sleep, we cannot survive and spend a third of our lives sleeping.
When we sleep, our brain processes information creating our memory. Our body is cleansed of toxins and renewed, which allows us to function properly when we wake up.
It significantly affects health even when the period of insomnia is short. Most people start to "break down" after just one night, and after three our functioning is far from normal.
One study showed that after 17-19 hours without sleep, we perform cognitive tasks like when we drink too much alcohol.
The effects worsen over time. The person who did not sleep for 11 days, which is the longest documented case, had serious cognitive problems, problems with behavior change, concentration and short-term memory, paranoia and hallucinations.
And while scientists have long known how important it is to get enough sleep, it is sometimes easy to overlook the key role that light plays in our lives.
Setting the body clock
Light is important because it adjusts the circadian rhythm, or our body clock, through special light sensors in the eye.
The eye recognizes the changes of light and darkness and adjusts the body's circadian rhythm so that our needs and behaviors coincide with the changes of day and night.
This process is so powerful that people with severe eye injuries can have their body clock disrupted, leading to sleep problems.
Sleep is one of the most important elements of everyday life.
Without sleep, we cannot survive and spend a third of our lives sleeping.
When we sleep, our brain processes information creating our memory. Our body is cleansed of toxins and renewed, which allows us to function properly when we wake up.
It significantly affects health even when the period of insomnia is short. Most people start to "break down" after just one night, and after three our functioning is far from normal.
One study showed that after 17-19 hours without sleep, we perform cognitive tasks like when we drink too much alcohol.
The effects worsen over time. The person who did not sleep for 11 days, which is the longest documented case, had serious cognitive problems, problems with behavior change, concentration and short-term memory, paranoia and hallucinations.
And while scientists have long known how important it is to get enough sleep, it is sometimes easy to overlook the key role that light plays in our lives.
Setting the body clock
Light is important because it adjusts the circadian rhythm, or our body clock, through special light sensors in the eye.
The eye recognizes the changes of light and darkness and adjusts the body's circadian rhythm so that our needs and behaviors coincide with the changes of day and night.
This process is so powerful that people with severe eye injuries can have their body clock disrupted, leading to sleep problems.
But today, many of us experience only a fraction of the cycle from dusk to dawn. This can be especially true for students, who usually start the day later and spend more time outside in the evening.
Due to the twilight light, their body clock is late, which means that they will probably go to bed later and wake up later.
Hormonal changes in adolescence and early adulthood intensify this, so the body clock of young people can be delayed by about two hours.
The health consequences of smoking, alcohol and unprotected sex are widely known, but awareness of the importance of sleep and the critical role played by light is probably much less widespread.
Further research in this area could help people make informed decisions about whether to prioritize sleep and how much time to spend in natural light. It could also affect the way governments, educational institutions and employers make decisions and regulations.
Turn down the light when you go to sleep and try to be in the morning light as much as possible - these are simple steps that can help you regulate and improve your sleep.
tanks.