How well are you sleeping?
Answer 5 simple questions in our sleep test for a brief evaluation and some advice.
Take the sleep testEverybody needs sleep; and yet many of us suffer from a range of problems when it comes to getting that all important shut-eye. Here at A.Vogel Talks Sleep, our sleep advisor Marianna Kilburn provides information on everything you need to know about sleep: its importance, the causes and symptoms of sleep problems and disorders, and her tips on how to get a better night's sleep. There is also a Q&A service where you can ask Marianna all your sleep-related questions.
Sleep has been defined as the period when you are not awake. This sounds catchy, but may not always be helpful, especially to those who find they can’t sleep very well!
Scientifically speaking, sleep is the regular period in every 24 hours when we are normally unconscious and unaware of our surroundings. Sleep is governed by our body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, and it is this rhythm which becomes disrupted when working night shifts or suffering jet lag.
The renowned Swiss herbalist, Alfred Vogel, once described sleep as ‘the remedy which we cannot do without.’
A very important function of sleep is to restore our body to full function after the ‘wear and tear’ of the day’s activities. This is especially important for our brain. At night, with good sleep, tissues are repaired, organs rest or finish cycles such as flushing out toxins and the brain filters and processes the events of the day.
This is perhaps similar to a crew of maintenance staff moving in to sweep, dust, mop and repair your house, mending cracks that have shown up during the day, emptying the rubbish bins, filing the mail delivered and restoring your home to full working order for the next day.
Two phases of sleep have been identified by experts and scientists. With normal or good sleep, we move from one phase to the other and back again in cycles lasting between 90 and 120 minutes. These phases are known as:
With good sleep we will have short periods lasting for a minute or so during which we are awake. These episodes are normal and take place several times a night – they are part of the way our sleep moves through the REM and non-REM phases.
It is said that the average person needs seven-and-a-half hours sleep a night. However, averages conceal large differences and in truth, the amount of sleep each person requires varies considerably.
Age and personality play a fundamental part. Whilst most of us feel we need 7 to 8 hours sleep a night, there are some well-known examples of people who can get by with only 4 hours.
Generally, we need less sleep the older we get. Newborn babies seem to sleep for most of the day and a young child may require about 10 hours. Thereafter, some form of regression appears to take place, as teenagers seem to spend a great deal of time sleeping and experience great difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. However, this changes and as we pass into the 5th decade of our lives, we seem to require less and less sleep.
In addition to all this, our normal sleeping pattern changes through our adult years. For instance, an older person will sleep very deeply for the first 3 to 4 hours but wake more easily during the second half of the night.
Research tells us that over 25% of people in the UK feel that they sleep badly and look for more sleep or better quality sleep.
When you sleep badly, the normal cycles of REM and non-REM sleep are disrupted – sleep is shallower, lighter and not as restful.
The causes of bad sleep can be divided into two main categories – sleep problems and sleep disorders.
These represent the main reasons why people sleep badly. Sleep problems are not medical conditions but arise out of ‘normal everyday problems’ or minor health conditions that disturb your sleep.
Sleep problems fall into three main categories:
The causes of sleep problems are varied but range from having a new baby, stress, anxiety and excitement, to minor health problems such as menopausal night sweats, having to get up to urinate because an enlarged prostate or a painful muscle or joint.
Follow the links for more information on sleep problems and their causes.
Sleep disorders, on the other hand, are medical problems which directly affect your sleep. They are less common then sleep problems and can include:
Follow the link to find out more about sleep disorders.
Sleep problems (if severe enough, but this is rare) and sleep disorders can both lead to sleep deprivation – a situation where physical effects caused by a lack of sleep are experienced.
To put this into context, the most common cause of sleep deprivation is when a new-born child arrives. Unfortunately, some babies just sleep better than others.
For more information, follow to link to sleep deprivation.
Looking for an undisturbed nights sleep? Need to regulate your sleep pattern?
Then look no further than Dormeasan Valerian & Hops.
"Has really helped me to sleep especially with the advice on the site as to how best to take it for the best results."
To find local independent stores in your area that sell Dormeasan Valerian & Hops, simply type your postcode below.
Answer 5 simple questions in our sleep test for a brief evaluation and some advice.
Take the sleep testAs the A. Vogel Sleep advisor, I recommend Dormeasan®, a natural sleep remedy made from fresh extracts of Valerian root and Hops.
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