2006-11-20 05:43:13 · 20 answers · asked by Filip J 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Lots of chemical processes occur in the body that don't occur during wakefulness. These processes go a long way in repairing damage done to our body during the normal wear and tear of everyday life. Sleeping really doesn't generate any energy, as others have written. That is the most simple and understandable way to explain it.
2006-11-20 05:45:41 · answer #1 · answered by Brian 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Sleep helps the body recover from all the work it did while an a person was awake. Experiments have shown that the more physical exercise a person does, the more dreams they will have. Also, if people are deprived of NREM by waking them up each time they get to stage 4 sleep, then they complain of being physically tired. If people are deprived of REM sleep by waking them up each time the have REM type EEG patterns, they can get anxious and irritable. If animals are deprived of REM for several days and then allowed to get an undisturbed period of sleep, animals will go into "REM rebound" - this is when REM periods of sleep will happen more often and for a longer time than normal.
Sleep, especially REM sleep, has also been thought to be important for memory and learning. It is possible that sleep helps form memories.
In a recent survey:
* 63% of the surveyed adults get less than the recommended eight hours of sleep per night; 31% get less than seven hours.
* 40% of surveyed adults report having trouble staying awake during the day.
* Over the last five years, people have worked more and slept less.
* Eight out of ten people said that they would sleep more if they knew it would improve their health and memory.
2006-11-20 05:46:46 · answer #2 · answered by Sassysaz 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Some recent research suggests the first physiological reason for sleep is that the glial cells of the brain store glycogen which fuels brain cells. Normal waking brain activity depletes the glycogen; sleep restores it. This implies that sleep is the body's way of taking the brain 'off line' to recharge the glial cells. Whether, or not, this is the fundamental reason, it's a fact that we cannot go for long without sleep. Yet, we do know that during sleep many of the body's major organ and regulatory systems continue to work actively. Some parts of the brain actually increase their activity dramatically, and the body produces more of certain hormones. Sleep, like diet and exercise, is important for our minds and bodies to function normally. In fact, sleep appears to be required for survival. For instance, rats deprived of sleep die within two to three weeks; a time frame similar to death due to starvation. There's a lot more regarding the consequences of going without sleep on the website below.
2006-11-20 05:55:52 · answer #3 · answered by uknative 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Sleep restores. In other words sleep either allows or promotes physiological processes which rejuvenate the body and the mind. Studies suggest sleep restores neurons and increases production of brain proteins and certain hormones.
2006-11-20 05:50:27 · answer #4 · answered by New guy in town 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Because if we don't we die! The most I haven't slept for was 3 days and I started hallucinating! Sleep deprivation causes mistakes. But why we need to do it i don't know. Maybe something to do with chemicals in the brain.
2006-11-20 05:47:05 · answer #5 · answered by Jo_Diva 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Because we all get drunk. We need to sleep it off.
2006-11-21 11:12:28 · answer #6 · answered by sharron f 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To rest our body and let them function at a slower and more relax pace so that our body will be stronger. It's like a recharge.
2006-11-20 05:51:04 · answer #7 · answered by Peyton 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
we sleep cause our body needs rest after a long days work.... and it gives us energy for the following day..... its keeps us healthy and our skin healthy....if we dont get sleep it will cause us to be moody, arrogant, and gives us wrinkled skin in our early age
2006-11-20 05:45:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
To help the body rejuvinate for the next day
2006-11-20 05:44:54 · answer #9 · answered by pchick261 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It helps us get energy to function through out the day. Food also gives us energy.
2006-11-20 05:44:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋