💤🛌Sweet Dreams <3 Interesting Sleep Facts!😴
Sleep is SUCH a fascinating subject, and to be honest, I’ll be one of the first to admit that I didn’t really appreciate the benefits of a good night’s sleep, or the incredible role sleep plays in our lives. I used to scoff whenever I read what I thought were “so-called health tips” where celebrities would harp on about the benefits of sleep, and how it was their secret beauty weapon.
Well, several years later… I stand corrected!
Research has shown that sleep is probably one of the best things we can do for ourselves in terms of repairing and replenishing the body, consolidating out memories, helping us learn, heling us heal and boosting our immune systems.
And it’s FREE!
I recently had the privilege of delivering a webinar for Softserve about sleep, and whilst I was putting it together I stumbled upon the following fascinating facts which I’m going to share with you now:
1. 😴 We Dream During REM Sleep Our most vivid and memorable dreams occur during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which is one of the sleep stages within our sleep cycles…. which occur during our overall nightly sleep. Our sleep cycles comprise of 5 stages, imaginatively named “REM” or “Rapid Eye Movement” sleep and…. prepare yourself…. “NREM” or “None Rapid Eye Movement” sleep. There are 4 NREM stages. Each cycle lasts around 90 minutes and ends with REM.
2. 🚶♂️ Sleep Driving? Sounds Dangerous! Sleepwalkers can perform complex activities during an episode, such as cooking, cleaning, or even driving, without any conscious awareness.
3. 💥 Have You Ever Experienced Exploding Head Syndrome? Exploding Head Syndrome is a rare and unsettling sleep disorder. People with this condition may hear loud and sudden noises in their head, like explosions, crashes, or even the sound of a gunshot, just as they are falling asleep or waking up. These noises are entirely internal and not caused by external stimuli.
4. 💤 That Falling, Jerking Feeling Those sudden muscle contractions or twitches that some people experience while falling asleep are called hypnagogic jerks. The exact cause of these jerks is not well understood.
5. ⏰ The Longest Period Without Sleep The longest period without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes. It’s not recommended to attempt this, as it can have severe health consequences. In 1997, Guinness stopped monitoring the record for the longest time to stay awake, with the record holder at the time being Robert McDonald, who went almost 19 days without sleep in 1986.
6. ☠️ Sleep Deprivation can be Fatal Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to serious health issues and, in extreme cases, can be fatal. It has been linked to conditions like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
7. 🐶 Animals Dream Too <3 It’s not just humans who dream; animals do too! Research suggests that animals like dogs and cats experience dream cycles similar to humans. You might catch your dog twitching or “running” in their sleep, which could be a sign of dreaming.
8. 😴 Yawning IS Contagious! Have you ever noticed that when one person yawns, others often do too? This phenomenon is known as contagious yawning and is related to empathy. It’s more likely to occur when you’re emotionally close to the person who started yawning.
9. 🐨 And the Animal who Sleeps the Longest is… the Koala! They spend their time sleeping up to 22 hours a day.
10. ❤️ Want to Reduce Stress? Sleep Next to a Loved One! Studies have shown that sleeping next to a loved one, such as a partner or a pet, can reduce stress and promote feelings of security and comfort. The physical closeness and emotional connection with a loved one can lead to the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone” or “cuddle hormone,” which can help reduce stress and improve the quality of your sleep. So, sharing your bed with someone you care about can lead to not only better sleep but also a stronger bond.
So there you have it, 10 interesting facts about sleep! Did any surprise you?