Dr. Amy Morrison, ND - Calgary

The Importance of Sleep

Sleep is a complex activity that has a profound impact on mental, physical, and emotional health. During the deepest stages of sleep, the brain and body recover leaving you feeling recharged and able to perform your best. Sleep also improves immune cell function, regulates metabolism and hormones, and reinforces a healthy cardiovascular system. All these systems need to be restored to make the body less vulnerable to disease.

Unfortunately, sleep is often one the first things that is sacrificed when trying to fit more into 24 hours.

How the Sleep-Wake Cycle Works

Sleep is part of a 24-hour cycle known as the sleep-wake cycle or the circadian rhythm. This cycle is regulated by two main hormones, melatonin and cortisol. Ideally, melatonin peaks at night to make us sleepy while cortisol peaks in the morning to provide us with energy. Melatonin and cortisol have an inverse relationship; when melatonin is high, cortisol should be low. When either of these hormones get out of balance, our ability to sleep is affected. ⠀

One of the biggest influences on the sleep-wake cycle is light. Melatonin production is blocked at night when our eyes are exposed to light (especially blue light) from bright lights, watching TV, or playing on cell phones/tablets before bed. Even if you can fall asleep after these activities, it takes time for melatonin levels to rise delaying the onset of quality sleep. On the other hand, sun light first thing upon waking will help to regulate this cycle.

Other factors that impact this cycle and sleep quality include stress, physical activity, alcohol, noise, and food consumption.