You know you’re supposed to get eight hours of sleep a night, but what’s really going on up in your body during that time? Quite a lot, it turns out. Here’s a peek inside your nighttime body factory.
1. SLEEP PARALYSIS
You start to wake up in the morning and realize you can’t move a muscle or speak. It can last from several seconds to several minutes, and it’s completely terrifying.
You start to wake up in the morning and realize you can’t move a muscle or speak. It can last from several seconds to several minutes, and it’s completely terrifying.
You may feel like you can’t breathe. Many people describe it as an elephant sitting on their chest. That’s because all of the muscles that control your breathing except for the diaphragm are still paralyzed
2. You feel like you’re falling
Also known as a hypnagogic jerk, it tends to happen as you’re falling asleep. Researchers believe that people dream about falling to their death at least 5 times in their lifetime. Why the falling? Researchers aren’t sure. “It’s more likely to happen when you’re overtired, sleep-deprived, or stressed,”
Also known as a hypnagogic jerk, it tends to happen as you’re falling asleep. Researchers believe that people dream about falling to their death at least 5 times in their lifetime. Why the falling? Researchers aren’t sure. “It’s more likely to happen when you’re overtired, sleep-deprived, or stressed,”
“Anyone can experience sleep talking, but the condition is more common in males and children
3. Rapid Eye Movement
“REM sleep” — the stage of sleeping responsible for vivid dreaming — is characterized by random movement of the eyes in all directions. The connection between these movements and sleeping is unknown.
“REM sleep” — the stage of sleeping responsible for vivid dreaming — is characterized by random movement of the eyes in all directions. The connection between these movements and sleeping is unknown.
4. Sleepwalking And Talking
Sleepwalking mostly happens in childhood, typically between the ages of 4 and 8. But adults can do it, too. Some sleepwalkers will also talk in their sleep. As with sleepwalking, sleep talking can range in complexity. Some people will only mumble, while others will carry on whole conversations. The Sleep Foundation points out that speech during sleep is “not a product of the conscious or rational mind” and therefore isn’t admissible in court. Most people who talk or walk in their sleep will not remember it when they wake up.
Sleepwalking mostly happens in childhood, typically between the ages of 4 and 8. But adults can do it, too. Some sleepwalkers will also talk in their sleep. As with sleepwalking, sleep talking can range in complexity. Some people will only mumble, while others will carry on whole conversations. The Sleep Foundation points out that speech during sleep is “not a product of the conscious or rational mind” and therefore isn’t admissible in court. Most people who talk or walk in their sleep will not remember it when they wake up.
5. Your muscles regenerate thanks to the Human Growth Hormone
A good night’s sleep may be the key to the body’s production of human growth hormone, touted by some as a cure-all for the ills of aging, from weight gain to wrinkles.
A good night’s sleep may be the key to the body’s production of human growth hormone, touted by some as a cure-all for the ills of aging, from weight gain to wrinkles.
6. Your throat changes; it becomes narrow
“While you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward, and your throat becomes narrow and “floppy.” As you breathe, the walls of the throat begin to vibrate – generally when you breathe in, but also, to a lesser extent, when you breathe out.
“While you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward, and your throat becomes narrow and “floppy.” As you breathe, the walls of the throat begin to vibrate – generally when you breathe in, but also, to a lesser extent, when you breathe out.
These vibrations lead to the characteristic sound of snoring. The narrower your airway becomes, the greater the vibration and the louder your snoring.
7. You grind your teeth
“Although the causes of bruxism, or teeth grinding are unknown, one study links it with such factors as anxiety, stress, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, caffeine, sleep apnea , snoring and fatigue.
“Although the causes of bruxism, or teeth grinding are unknown, one study links it with such factors as anxiety, stress, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, caffeine, sleep apnea , snoring and fatigue.
8. Your pee is dark in the morning because your kidneys slowed down overnight
During sleep, physiological demands are reduced and temperature and blood pressure drop. Physiological activities are reduced during sleep. For example, kidney function slows and the production of urine is decreased.
During sleep, physiological demands are reduced and temperature and blood pressure drop. Physiological activities are reduced during sleep. For example, kidney function slows and the production of urine is decreased.
9. WAKE UP WITH MORNING ERECTIONS
Men have erections every hour to hour and a half during sleep. This is because the combination of blood circulation and testosterone production can cause erections during sleep and are a necessary part of REM sleep. They happen sporadically throughout the night, so whether you wake up with one or not is just up to chance.
Men have erections every hour to hour and a half during sleep. This is because the combination of blood circulation and testosterone production can cause erections during sleep and are a necessary part of REM sleep. They happen sporadically throughout the night, so whether you wake up with one or not is just up to chance.