Sleep is essential to keep the body system active. It makes you relaxed, keeps you refreshed, and prepares you for daily tasks. Besides, it provides tons of immeasurable benefits to your health.
Since it is integral for the body, scientists research to learn what happens when this process takes place. They study sleep, how animals and humans react to it, dreams, and other interesting details. So far, they have come with useful facts and statistics that have helped humans in their day-to-day activities. In this article, you will learn about some interesting sleep facts and other intriguing details.
Six Interesting Sleep Facts
Every day, scientists research to discover more amazing facts about sleep. These facts are vital and make positive impacts across the globe. The tricky part is that it is not only meant for humans, it also extends to animals. Here are six (6) sleep facts that can enlighten you.
- Humans Delay Sleep
Humans are the only higher animals that often delay sleep. Is that right? Of course not! Every individual needs to sleep for specific hours depending on their age. For instance, the average hour for a 3-5 year old kid is between 10-13 hours. Meanwhile, an adult does not need to do that. An average of 7-9 hours is needed for adults. Hence, reducing these hours is not beneficial for the body. By delaying sleep, you may find it difficult to think, concentrate on usual tasks, and eventually abuse drugs. However, if this is a disorder, you may need to see your doctor provide adequate treatment. Getting enough sleep in a day boosts your immune system and gets you ready for the next task.
- Whales and Dolphins Never Fully Fall Asleep
Whales and Dolphins don't sleep as we do. Unlike humans when we are unconscious of the happenings in the environment, dolphins maintain consciousness. Their breathing system is not automatic like ours. As a result, they have to stay active and control when they breathe.
During sleep, they allow half of their brain to sleep. The other half remains active and keeps them conscious of their surroundings. In other words, they are awake and asleep at the same time. Besides, they close one eye when it is time to sleep and keep the other part of the brain awake.
For instance, they can close the right eye while keeping the left part of the brain asleep. In this process, they alternately switch the half of the brain that needs rest so that they won't lose consciousness and stop breathing.
- Everyone Dreams Four to Six Times Each Night
Dreams are the mental images our mind creates when we fall asleep. They can elevate your mood, make you feel sad, or even afraid. When you go through this phase, you could wake up confused or enlightened.
Dreams occur anytime you sleep. It happens vividly during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM), a phase when the brain is usually active. According to experts, we dream four to six times each night we sleep. Although we know the numbers, we do not know how long they last. While some last for a few minutes, others could last for hours.
- Giraffes and Bats' Sleep Pattern Vary
Animals do sleep. The tricky aspect is that their sleeping pattern is not uniformed. While some sleep for a few hours, others sleep for a longer period. An example is a giraffe that sleeps for about two hours per day. Although they sleep at night, they also love to have quick naps in the daytime for relatively few minutes. Besides, they also stand when they sleep. Meanwhile, nocturnal creatures like bats have different sleep patterns. They sleep for a longer period as they spend almost 20 hours sleeping.
- We Dream about What We See
Dreams are integral aspects of our sleep. We don't dream about the unknown. We dream about what we have already seen. When you see faces in your dreams, they are not random faces. They are people we have seen in reality. After all, we see hundreds of faces every day. In short, our dreams don't create faces from mysteries or some unseen forces. Those faces you see are people you may have encountered somewhere in your life.
- Falling Asleep takes Ten to Twenty Minutes
After going to bed, it is okay for you to fall asleep within ten to twenty minutes. If it takes you less than that period, it means that you are probably sleep-deprived or exhausted. Meanwhile, if it takes longer than that period, you may consider using a sleep supplement. Practicing good sleep hygiene prepares your body to get enough rest. That implies setting up sleep schedules, putting phones or other technological devices away thirty minutes before you go to bed, and more.
