What Happens When You Sleep and How Your Bed Can Help

We spend around a third of our lives asleep. Some of us don’t get enough of it and some get too much, but why is it so important? Sleep is the time where our brain and body can carry out important tasks which help the body cope with day to day life.

During sleep, a number of functions take place and without these the body struggles, which is why when we fail to get enough sleep, we feel tired, irritable and are more prone to accidents and vulnerable to illness.

While you rest overnight, your brain is often far from it. The cerebral cortex which is the thinking part of the brain rests but the brain’s ability to learn and process is maintained by sleep. This is why when you are suffering from a lack of sleep, it can often seem like you’re working on autopilot and are prone to irritability, unclear thinking and trouble dealing with unexpected situations. All things that can make your working day harder and productivity low. During the first few phases of sleep, the cortex activity drops by 40% but during later stages the brain becomes highly active.

During sleep there are five different sleep cycles and during deep sleep, rapid eye movement occurs. During this time, the eyes are moving quickly for up to 30 minutes at a time and this is repeated every 90 minutes. REM is when dreaming occurs but temporary muscle paralysis prevents us from acting out or dreams. However a person can change their sleeping position around 35 times a night!

Sleeping process. Source: Intropsych

Sleep is hugely important for health and the body. While you’re asleep, heart rate and blood pressure fall by 10%. People who have between seven and eight hours of sleep a night have the lowest rates of heart disease, while insomniacs have a 45% higher risk of heart attack. 

Sleep also releases growth hormones which boosts muscle mass and repair for cells and tissues. A lack of sleep can disturb the ability of the immune system to fight infection and make the body vulnerable to viruses.

The digestive system provides a regular supply of energy and is a key source of glucose which is constantly burned up when it is releases energy for muscle contraction, nerve impulses and regulating body temperature. The digestive system slows down overnight, which is why eating late at night isn’t recommended and can lead to morning bloat. 

With all the things your body needs to achieve overnight, it’s clear to see why sleep is so vital to the human body. Which is why it is so important to ensure you get enough of it and have a suitable bed to support your chances of getting enough sleep. People who have old or unsuitable mattresses have much more trouble getting to sleep as well as experiencing back and neck problems because their body is not properly supported. Rather than being supported and able to relax, muscles could end up trying to compensate the pressure and end up working harder - leaving you feeling tired and achy in the morning. 

A memory foam mattress topper can be a great way of improving your sleep and comfort

 It’s important to find a mattress that is comfortable and suitable for you and everyone is different, which is why you need to have the time to test mattresses out. Everybody is different and you need something that is suitable for your body. When shopping for a mattress spend around 10 minutes on each bed and really test how comfortable it is. Do you feel supported yet comfortable? If you’ve had your current mattress over seven years, then it’s time to upgrade!