Sweet Deams are Made of Sleep

As you are laying in your bed tonight, pay attention to what your body is doing. Do you jerk really hard as you start to drift off? If you do and you've been wondering why, it's just an involuntary muscle spasm as your body shifts to a restful state. Sort of like how sometimes when you unplug something periodically there is a spark. Does it mean your appliance is broken? Not necessarily, sometimes that just happens. The same thing is true about your body.

Why does the spasm happen? Well, that has not exactly been pinpointed. What we do know is that somewhere between 60%-70% of people have experienced these spasms as they go to sleep. Sometimes there are clear causes, such as exposure to a stimulant such as drinking too much coffee (caffeine) before bedtime or having a before bed smoke (nicotine). Then, sometimes it is a direct result of unmanaged stress and anxiety - an active brain will cause these body spasms as well. There are also some studies that show that sleep deprivation and/or inconsistent sleeping cycles can also result in a higher chance of having muscle spasms.

What can you do to decrease your chances of having a spasm? Avoid stimulants. We know that Starbucks Frappuccino seems like a good idea, especially with how hot it has been lately, but don't do it. Early in the day it may be ok, but as you approach your wind-down time, even that evening smoke could keep you up or result in muscle spasms.

If you decide to take hormonal supplements, turn down the light as well. We have written a few articles now about things that can interrupt the sleep cycle and having too much light (which can be something benign like leaving the TV on) when you get ready for bed can cause unnecessary brain stimulation.

Having a consistent schedule may help as well, especially considering that the average night sleep has shifted from 8 hours to 7 over the last 100 years. More than likely the increase in unnatural light sources more than likely has something to do with that, but for now let's focus on making sure we get the full night's sleep. So, how much sleep do we actually need? According to science, young to middle aged adults need 7-9 hours a night while older adults need 7-8 hours. Why? Behavioral and cognitive functions. No one is quite themselves when they have not had enough sleep. Studies also show that people can develop tolerance to chronic sleep deprivation, so even though the brain and body is struggling with the lack of sleep there won't be any noticeable physical or mental difference. So why is lack of sleep something to be avoided? Well, people who lack sleep are at a higher risk of developing diseases and medical conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.