A Review on Sleep cycle effect on human body
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59436/jsiane.424.2583-2093Keywords:
Circadian rhythm, work-rest patterns, sleep behaviour, sleep disorders, sleep homeostasis, wakefulness.Abstract
Insufficient or poor sleep can cause a host of physical and mental health issues; this review looks at the science behind the human sleep cycle and how it works. Sleep is regulated by a dynamic interaction between circadian rhythms and sleep homeostasis. Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, plays a crucial role in controlling when we sleep and when we wake up. A small cluster of hypothalamic neurons known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) controls its secretion and acts as the body's primary timekeeper. In response to light signals received by the eyes, the SCN synchronizes internal rhythms with the external day-night cycle. During the night, your body goes through two main phases of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). The brainstem and forebrain's neural networks orchestrate the changes between these phases. Cry1, Cry2, Per1, and Per2 are important clock genes whose expression regulates molecular circadian rhythms. Extended periods of waking raise sleep pressure, which impairs cognition and increases energy expenditure. Sleep homeostasis can be upset by aging and irregular sleep habits, which can lead to structural changes in sleep patterns and decreased sleep efficiency. Shift workers are most affected by these interruptions because their internal clocks frequently don't match their work schedules. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (CRSWDs), which have a detrimental impact on health and quality of life, are exacerbated by this misalignment. Addressing sleep-related health issues in contemporary culture requires an understanding of these mechanisms.
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