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All articles and information on this website are for educational purposes only and may include the opinion of the author. Information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease. It is simply information found through experience and/or research. Always follow the directives of a licensed health professional. Neither Anita Bastian nor the publisher of the information takes any responsibility for actions readers take in regards to how they use or perceive the information. Readers are encouraged to do their own research.

Brain Health

Is Your Brain Getting the Sleep It Needs?

DISCLAIMER: All information is for education purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or replace health professional advice. Always seek guidance of a medical professional for all health concerns.

We all know that we need sleep, but we struggle to get it.   Many of us struggle to fall asleep, to stay asleep, or to feel rested after a night’s sleep.  Some may think this is normal.  Well, it’s not.  It is common, but not normal.  Read on.

According to an article on WebMD, research links sleep deprivation to car accidents, relationship troubles, poor job performance, job-related injuries, memory problems, and mood disorders. Dangers in Lack of Zzzz’s 

LET’S EXPLORE 7 VITAL FUNCTIONS THE BRAIN AND BODY PERFORM DURING SLEEP.

  1. During the REM phase of sleep your brain is consolidating and storing memories so that what you learned during the day will stay with you.  If you don’t get enough sleep, your ability to retain information is impaired.  What is REM sleep?  Poor REM sleep may also impair our immune system function.
  2. Not all bits of information are deemed necessary to take up real estate in our brain.  This unnecessary information is pruned away to allow for what is considered important to occupy space in the brain while we sleep.
  3. In the deep sleep phase, the body is busy repairing muscles and tissues.  This is critical for repair of organs and cells that have been stressed or damaged.  The brain is also busy removing waste products and toxins via the brain’s glymphatic system.  Wow – the brain is busy!
  4. During non-REM sleep, your pulse and blood pressure ideally become lower.  This allows your blood vessels and your heart time they need to rest and recover.  Ahhh… sounds nice.
  5. While you are in deep sleep the brainstem sends signals to the most of body’s muscles to prevent movement.  That way you are stopped from acting out your dreams.  Phew!
  6. Neurotransmitters like GABA are produced to calm the brain’s centers of arousal, so that we can relax and sleep.  Production of GABA is critical for sleep.
  7. Hormones like melatonin are produced from the neurotransmitter serotonin in greater amounts at night to allow our bodies to rest and recover as part of the body’s internal clock or circadian rhythm.  Cortisol levels should go down at night to allow us to relax and sleep.  Lack of sleep is linked to imbalances in hormones.  We see how this can become a vicious cycle that can really take its toll on our wellness if we are stuck in a stressed state.  What many don’t realize is that around 90% or more of our serotonin is produced in the gut - not the brain.  So, now we see the reason that what we consume and the state of our gut does impact our sleep.  This is a significant gut-brain connection.

When I reflect on the knowledge about sleep the following come to mind:

  1. We do not want to endanger others or ourselves. We all want to enjoy life and perform our best – so we need to see that we get good sleep.  Period.  Sleep needs to be a priority.
  2. If we’re am not sleeping well, we need to find out what the underlying causes are that are keeping us from sleeping optimally.  If we don’t do this it is likely things will get worse – stress levels will grow, ability to retain information will drop, and the body’s natural ability to heal will be significantly hindered.   If things are going to change, something needs to change.
  3. For years I experienced raised cortisol levels at night.  (Cortisol levels should drop at night and melatonin levels should rise.)  I was exhausted, yet I would lie there awake, tossing and turning for hours.  Maybe get a couple hours of sleep.  Wake up exhausted and start all over again.  This issue didn’t start to resolve until I found out why my nervous system was confused.  (Using Nutrition Response Testing.)
  4. For all who struggle with sleep and are pushing through life with caffeinated “fuel” – there are much better options.  In fact, caffeine is a stimulant that actually makes your fatigue and sleep worsen over time.  Plus, caffeine has other negative impacts that I won’t get into here.  (I know this is not what you want to hear – but you need to know the truth.)  Interesting article about Caffeine and Sleep.
  5. If you have children who struggle to sleep, please seek to find the underlying causes.  They hopefully have a long life ahead of them.  I am sure they will be grateful that you did, and I am guessing everyone will enjoy them being happier and less irritable.

WATCH FOR MY NEXT BLOG.  MY TIPS FOR GETTING QUALITY SLEEP. SWEET DREAMS!