[Repost] To be healthy, start with sleep.
By Li Hsin-Chien, Director of the Sleep Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital
What may seem like a peaceful night's sleep is actually a turbulent one. A night's sleep consists of several cycles, each of which can be further divided into several stages. After a long and tiring day, the brain's nerves transition from light sleep..."Sleep onset period"Entering a state of complete indifference to the outside world"Deep sleep period"Through instrument detection, it can be seen that the brainwaves of people sleeping soundly gradually slow down, entering the core of sleep. After a short while, the brainwaves suddenly accelerate, the eyes begin to move rapidly from side to side, and one after another, wonderful dreams appear in the mind. At this moment, the sleeping person enters a very special state.Rapid eye movement (REM)After a while, the dream fades, the brain enters a resting phase again, and sleep enters the next cycle. The entire night's sleep is spent in this cycle of ups and downs, and these physiological changes are sometimes even more dramatic than during the day. Past notions about sleep can now be "visually verified" thanks to the technology of sleep medicine, which is one of the purposes of sleep centers.
Of course, most people who come to sleep centers are long-term sufferers of sleep disorders. When sleep problems arise...It not only directly reduces the overall quality of life, but also indirectly expands its adverse effects through its association with certain chronic diseases.Past research has found that people who suffer from long-term sleep disorders...They are also prone to various chronic diseases.Currently, related medical research is in full swing, andIt has been found that heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even depression can interact with sleep disorders.。
Sleep disorders can be further divided into...Insomnia、narcolepsy、ParasomniaThere are three main categories. Besides insomnia, "sleep-related respiratory disorders" are the most common conditions seen at sleep center outpatient clinics. Among them...Sleep apnea syndromeThis can easily cause daytime sleepiness. People with sleep apnea not only snore loudly at night, disturbing their sleep, but also experience difficulty breathing, which affects the oxygen concentration in their bodies, leading to dizziness and headaches the next day.In the long run, this increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke.。
The significant advancements in sleep medicine in recent years have provided ample empirical evidence to dispel the aforementioned sleep myths.