Unlock the Secrets to Optimal Sleep: Your Comprehensive Guide to Better Rest
Sleep is a complex process of restoration and renewal for the body. Sleep deprivation is associated with several physical and emotional disturbances. Our sleep patterns are controlled by our body’s natural 24-hour clock, called the circadian rhythm. These are controlled by brain neurons that respond to light, temperature, hormones, and other signals that comprise the body’s biological clock. This clock helps regulate the normal wake and sleep cycles. Disruption of these cycles can make people sleepy or somnolent; at times, people want to be awake. For example, travelers experience jet lag when they cross time zones. Causes of Sleep Disorders Sleep disorders are disruptions of the sleep cycle or the quality of sleep. About 50–70 million Americans are believed to suffer from chronic sleep disorders, with millions more affected on an occasional basis. Doctors have defined over 70 different types of sleep disorders , but the most common sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea, restl...