Sleep is a basic physiological drive, necessary for life and proper functioning. Yet, many people suffer from inadequate sleep, with 30% to 40% of Americans report suffering
from insomnia. Sleep loss results in decreased brain function, often resulting in physical illness. Studies indicate that chronic insomnia,
which affects 15% of the population, can lead to poor health and debilitating disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Our bodies require deep
sleep, or slow wave sleep, to heal and restore at the cellular level. Thus, restorative sleep is an essential part of one’s health.
This article focuses on how natural rhythms affect sleep. Different individuals vary for patterns of sleep, energy, and daily rhythms. Even day to day, rhythms vary for each of us. So, being acutely tuned into these variations can create a more natural sleep cycle. At Intelligent Sleep we focus on four rhythms that impact sleep in modern
society: 1) circadian rhythm; 2) stress rhythm; 3) metabolic rhythm; and, 4) behavioral rhythms.
Circadian Rhythm:
In 1879, Edison invented the light bulb and our sleep has never been the same. Artificial light changes our nighttime chemistry in the brain, delaying the release of melatonin which naturally releases in darkness. Melatonin is a powerful anti-oxidant, cancer fighting molecule, and ensures a good night sleep when present
in adequate amounts. Artificial light from household lights, computers, and cell phones all reduce melatonin.
Stress Rhythm:
Studies show that more than 80% of us experience stress on a regular basis. This type of chronic stress leads to anxiety and eventually depression in severe cases. Sleep,
anxiety, and pain often occur together and are inter-related. So one must control or mitigate stress to achieve optimum sleep.
Metabolic Rhythm:
The brain utilizes only carbohydrates as a source of energy and glucose metabolism factors into poor sleep for many. When your brain struggles to process glucose during the night, there is a tendency to wake up during the night. The 2:30AM wakeup call that many people report, make it difficult to fall back asleep until the glucose metabolism can be restored to normal levels.
Behavioral Rhythm:
The bedroom should be used for sleep and sex only. When we work, watch television, or read in the bedroom we risk training our brain that we should be active at night.
This training may lead to behaviors that cause chronic insomnia. Intelligent Sleep focuses on body, mind, health, and home. Providing physical comfort with a balanced sleep surface, quieting the mind chatter, optimizing brain function, and establishing the proper environment for sleep in your bedroom all play an important role in achieving optimum sleep.