Conscious Comments May 2013 | Page 14

Healthy Living

Sleep is important to one’s health and well being. That is why we make children take naps. As we grow older and get busier, we also tend to sleep less. Our bodies repair themselves during sleep and this process is not only essential, but often has many stages, which is why doctors recommend getting at least six hours of sleep at night.

There are four stages of sleep that enable your mind to alternate between two basic states: rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) and non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM sleep). All four stages of sleep consist of NREM sleep. After the four stages of sleep, you will enter REM sleep for a period of time, and then you will cycle back into the four stages of NREM sleep again, followed by another period of REM sleep, and so on.

Both Stage Three and Stage Four are deep sleep stages, known as slow wave or delta sleep. Stage Four provides a deeper sleep

; than Stage Three. It appears that Stage Three and Stage Four are the stages of sleep when the body repairs itself, builds

muscle and bone tissues, and strengthens the immune system

The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:

1.Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.

Sleep and Your Health

2.Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.

3.Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.

4.Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.

5.Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.

6.Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.

If you have trouble getting a good night’s rest, here are some natural sleep aids:

LAVENDER

Lavender may help ease difficulties falling asleep and alleviate insomnia. Lavender has natural sedative properties that may help to slow the central nervous system. You can use 1 to 2 tsp. of the herb in a cup of hot water to make a relaxing tea. Lavender essential oil is commonly used to promote relaxation and restful sleep. You can use a few drops in a warm bath or place a few drops on a tissue to inhale the aroma. As with any herbal remedy, you should consult with your doctor before using lavender.