Sleep and Rest

A child and his mother sleeping on the couch.

"Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." - Benjamin Franklin

Lack of adequate rest has become a significant health problem for many people. The brain and body need sufficient, regular sleep to recover from the stresses of each day and to bring order to mind and body functions.

In a normal sleep pattern, the brain cycles through various stages of wakefulness and deep slumber. Some conditions may disturb the progression of these stages. Insomnia disturbs the sleep pattern by interfering with the plunge into deep sleep. Sleep apnea causes breathing to repeatedly stop for one or more breaths, resulting in periodic low blood oxygen.

There are also conditions that make it difficult for people to fall asleep. In teenagers, a problem getting to sleep is often related to delayed sleep phase syndrome. Commonly, problems falling asleep may be related to anxiety, and problems staying asleep may be related to clinical depression; both conditions may require treatment.

All of these conditions that disturb a normal sleep pattern deprive the body and mind of needed recovery from daily stress and leave the person tired, functioning poorly, and susceptible to disease. However, there are things that can be done to improve the quality of sleep and rest.

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