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Why do you go to sleep every night? Have you ever stopped to wonder why? Primitive man thought sleep was a time for souls to be free from the imprisonment of their human hosts. In the sixth century B.C. scientists believed waking hours caused blood to flow away from vital organs, and that sleep restored proper blood flow to the body. Aristotle, one of the most learned men of his age, believed sleep was induced by the rising heat from the digestion of food in our stomachs. Thomas Edison thought that sleep was a waste of time, and claimed he could live on less than 4 hours a day! Most people agree, "I go to sleep when I'm tired. It rests my body and keeps me healthy and energetic during the day." That's right, and most sleep researchers would agree with this simple explanation. However, there has to be more to it! There's no denying sleep rests our bodies. During sleep we gain the rest and refreshment that helps us to carry on day after day. Sleep allows time for certain necessary functions, such as refreshing and re-circulating hormones throughout our bodies in addition to a number of different physiological, and psychological activities that take place while we sleep. The body and mind of a sleeper is active during sleep. The activities most critical to our life and well being continue during sleep. Our breathing is consistent and our hearts beat smoothly and uniformly pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body. Sound and touch are picked up by our sensory organs and are filtered through to the brain. We manufacture nutrients, which help revive our various body systems, organs, and cells. Only after sleep will our complex beings sustain and/or regain an agreeable balance, working again like a well oiled machine. We do not control these activities. When we are healthy, we don't even recognize these actions in ourselves. Sleep also allows time for our brains to do certain jobs. Believe it or not, your mind does not turn off when you are asleep. Your brain remains active. As a matter of fact, there are certain nerve cells in our brains that fire five to ten times more frequently during sleep. Although we seem inactive, there are many changes and activities in our minds during sleep which work to our benefit. The brain is our "sleep center." Walter R. Hess, the scientist who performed some of the first experiments on the human brain, was the first to find concrete evidence that our sleep is controlled by our brains. During the 1930s Hess discovered that stimulating certain parts of the brain caused subjects to fall asleep automatically. Sleep researchers have since identified dozens more "sleep centers" in the brain and have studied their specific functions, such as the making of memory records, and the processing of emotions. Sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, like eating right and exercising regularly. A healthy amount of sleep restores the body and mind, while little or no sleep leaves the body fatigued and the mind dull. Sleep affects how you feel, how you perform, your relations, your personality, and your quality of life.
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