Re-charging your batteries

[Champagne]

Why do we need sleep? I know that it's our body's way of re-charging its energy stocks but why do we need to do that? How does it work etc.?

I was thinking about it this morning whilst ironing. I'd had a long lie-in yesterday, then went to bed around 10pm last night so was up at 7am bright-eyed and bushy tailed. The long sleep obviously did me good. So why is that?

[Octavius]

We have to sleep because it is essential to maintaining normal levels of cognitive skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking.

In other words, sleep plays a significant role in brain development.

If you want to experiment as to what happens when you don't sleep - and why you need to - try not sleeping for two weeks and monitor the outcome - if you can!

[annie0000]

During the day, your body uses its energy to keep you active and doing all the stuff you do - such as ironing! - at night when it has less demands, it replaces cells, repairs damage and gives your brain a chance to de-stress. I am sure that there is a more techical explanation though!

[4getmenot]

so can anyone explain when I have too much sleep I get a headache. I'm never able to have a lay in or I'm ill all day

[redcrx]

thats because you become dehydrated if you are asleep that long 4get.

Sleep is needed to rebuild cells, thats why in early pregnancy women sleep a lot, Their bodys need the sleep whilst they create a new life.

[Skreecheeboy]

You're just a weirdo 4getmenot! :p I was up till about 2 last night and at work for 9.30! Feel pretty knackered and I could have done without tidying up till so late last night but my wee bro sprung it on me at about 11pm that he is crashing at mine tonight as he's working at the Foo Fighters gig tomorrow!

[4getmenot]

but surely everyone becomes dehydrated why am I any different?

[redcrx]

cos youre special sis :)

I get headaches if ive slept too long, but for me thats anything over 15 hours :)

[Octavius]

As I said above sleep is about brain development. When you have too much sleep, your brain may become over stimulated, leading to a headache. A similar thing can happen with too much caffeine, or of course dehydration as mentioned above.

Another cause could be sinusitis, if you knowingly suffer from that at all.

Lots of people get headaches or migraines from oversleeping, all with varying causes.

[darlingnc]

i usually feel more tired the more sleep i get

[Octavius]

That pattern usually follows a previous night of sufficient sleep.

If one night you did not sleep enough, and the next night had a little more sleep than usual, it is unlikely that you will feel tired and groggy.

This is actually called the Rip Van Winkle effect and studies have shown that belief in feeling naff after oversleeping is in fact a myth.

[andy-hughes]

Sleep is actually more important than food or water.

Scientists reckon that the human body can survive for up to eleven days without food or water, but only five days without sleep - mainly, as suggested, to allow the brain to assimilate information and 're-set' itself for the next period of activity.

I have always believed that biologically, we work on a 48 hour cycle, although culturally, we work on a 24 hour cycle. That's why if you have an early night, you don;t feel that much better the day after, but the day after thatm, your energy levels rise.

I have never ever felt rested or refrehsed, because I suffer from borderline sleep apnoea, which means I rarely, if ever achieve the correct depth of sleep, so if I get up at five a.m., or two p.m., I feel exactly the same.