Sleep is a fundamental component of good health in body and mind. We all feel the need for sleep after a long active day unless we are drugged up on stimulants or suffering from some type of medical disorder which hypes us up. Sleep actually protects your brain, reports Science Daily on Dec. 31, 2013.
Researchers observed that one night of sleep deprivation increases morning blood concentrations of NSE and S-100B in healthy young men, as reported on by Uppsala Universitet in Sweden, via AlphaGalileo. These molecules are found in the human brain. The rise of these molecules after sleep deprivation may indicate that a lack of sleep might be conducive to a loss of brain tissue.
Sleep researcher Christian Benedict at the Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, who lead this study, said “We observed that a night of total sleep loss was followed by increased blood concentrations of NSE and S-100B. These brain molecules typically rise in blood under conditions of brain damage.” Benedict went on to explain that the results from this research therefore indicate that a lack of sleep may promote neurodegenerative processes. It has therefore been concluded that a good night’s sleep may be critical to help maintain brain health.
It generally appears obvious that sleep is beneficial for our well being, writes the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Even without a full understanding of what sleep actually does for us, it is clear that going without sleep for too long makes us feel terrible. And getting a good night’s sleep can make us feel energetic and ready to take on the world. Scientists have found that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.
The bottom line is sleep is vitally important for brain health and other aspects of good health. A good amount of daily exercise, avoidance of too much caffeine, soft music and meditation may help you get to sleep naturally. If you are still having trouble getting to sleep, natural remedies are preferable whenever possible to drugs to deal with insomnia, in order to avoid possible side effects which are associated with drugs.
Credit : Dr. Esha Kaul (Hematologist, Oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist 12 Years Experience)
