Sleep as a contributor to wellbeing

Everyone sleeps, including animals. We cannot operate without it. While we are awake, our brains are constantly at work, monitoring the constant flow of information and guiding our actions. This would not be possible without sleep - a moment for the brain to rest, clean up, sort and archive past events.

Have you ever wondered what really happens in your body when you sleep? Even though you don't do anything consciously while sleeping, there are many internal processes going on in your body that help you feel good the next day. From the following picture you can see the effects of sleep on different organ systems.

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References

Eshera, Y. M., Lyubov Gavrilova, & Hughes, J. W. (2023). Sleep is Essential for Cardiovascular Health: An Analytic Review of the Relationship Between Sleep and Cardiovascular Mortality. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276231211846

Fairholme, C. R., & Manber, R. (2015). Sleep, emotions, and emotion regulation: An overview. In K. A. Babson & M. T. Feldner (Eds.), Sleep and affect: Assessment, theory, and clinical implications (pp. 45–61). Elsevier Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-417188-6.00003-7

Klinzing, JG., Niethard, N. & Born J. (2019). Mechanisms of systems memory consolidation during sleep. Nat Neurosci, 22(10), 1598–1610.

Masoumeh Akhlaghi, & Kohanmoo, A. (2023). Sleep deprivation in development of obesity, effects on appetite regulation, energy metabolism, and dietary choices. Nutrition Research Reviews, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954422423000264

Palmer, C. A., & Alfano, C. A. (2017). Sleep and emotion regulation: An organizing, integrative review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 31, 6–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2015.12.006

Singh, K. K., Ghosh, S., Bhola, A., Verma, P., Amist, A. D., Sharma, H., Sachdeva, P., & Sinha, J. K. (2024). Sleep and Immune System Crosstalk: Implications for Inflammatory Homeostasis and Disease Pathogenesis. Annals of Neurosciences. https://doi.org/10.1177/09727531241275347

Stich, F. M., Huwiler, S., D’Hulst, G., & Lustenberger, C. (2021). The potential role of sleep in promoting a healthy body composition: Underlying mechanisms determining muscle, fat, and bone mass and their association to sleep. Neuroendocrinology, 112(7). https://doi.org/10.1159/000518691

Wigren, H-K. & Porkka-Heiskanen, T. (2018). Novel concepts in sleep regulation. Acta Physiologica, 222(4), 13017.

Key words: sleep, sleeping, wellbeing, bodily functions, learning

Physical wellbeing