What Happens In The Body While You're Asleep?

There are phenomenal things happen when we fall asleep. Every time we sleep our body goes through a wonderful process of revitalizing our energy sources which are essential to living a healthy life.

Sleep is the most awaited and peaceful time of the day. You can relax your mind and body and be in a total form of rest.

But is it a total form of rest?

No, it is not!

Your brain keeps working when you sleep. Your body keeps working while you sleep through at a slower rate.

Did you know that sleep is so important for human beings that a person will within 12 to 15 days without sleep?

Table of Contents

What Happens In The Body While You’re Asleep?

Do you want to know what happens in your body while you sleep?

Body temperature goes down.

All the useless toxins are flushed into the urinary bladder.

You forget all the information you gathered during the day that is useless and stored everything important deeper into your brain.

Your brain is very active and requires more oxygen.

All body cells get repaired.

There is a natural boost in your immune system.

You are breathing so your heart is also working in the normal way.

The Detailed Description

Let us see every point in detail:

1.Eyes

Though covered by lids, we can see some movement of the eyelids which can depict the sleep cycle the person is in.

The first phase semi-consciousness is when the eyes roll. But as we move into a deep sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) occurs when the eye moves about here and there.

This REM occurs within 90 minutes of falling asleep and reoccurs about every 90 minutes throughout the night. It denotes the time when most dreaming is done.

2.Hormones

During our waking hours, the body burns oxygen and food to provide energy. This is called as a catabolic state, in which energy spent is more than energy conservation, and they use up the body’s energy conservation.

This state is marked by the stimulating hormones such as adrenaline and natural corticosteroids. However, when we sleep, we move into an anabolic state, in which energy conservation, repair, and growth take over. Levels of adrenaline and corticosteroids drop and the body starts to produce human growth hormone (HGH).

This means that when we sleep our body is busy repairing the damaged cells of our body.

Melatonin is another hormone produced to help us sleep. It is secreted by the pineal gland deep in the brain and helps control our body’s rhythms and sleep-wake cycles.

3.Immune System Boosts

Yes, it is true because when we sleep our cells get repaired, and there is more lymphocyte production in our body.

That is why the immune system boosts and it is proved that sleep helps us fight infections. This is why antibiotics have a tendency to put us to sleep.

4.Body Temperature

In the evening, body temperature, and hormones responsible for wakefulness such as adrenaline, starts to drop. Some sweating may occur, as the body is not moving around and hence tries to combat losing heat.

Body temperature continues to fall throughout the night. By 5 am in the more it drops to 1 degree Celsius from the night. At the same time, our metabolic rate drops too

5.The Skin

The top layer of the skin is made of closely packed dead cells which are constantly shed during the day.

During deep sleep, the skin’s metabolic rate speeds up, and many of the body’s cells reduce the breakdown of proteins and increase its production.

Since proteins are the building blocks needed for cell growth and the repair of damage from factors like ultraviolet rays, deep sleep is beauty sleep.

6.The Mouth

Saliva lubricates the mouth for eating, but during sleep secretion of saliva is greatly reduced, so it causes a dry mouth in the morning.

However, the mouth can be very active during sleep as researchers have found that one in 20 adults unconsciously grinds their teeth at night.

7.Muscles

The human body changes its position during sleep for almost 35 times, but still the muscles stay relaxed which helps to repair any damaged tissue present in it.

8.Blood

The heart rate decreases for about ten to30 beats at night which directly results in a decrease in blood pressure.

9.Digestive System

When we sleep, our need for energy is very less, so the digestive system slows down to a tortoise pace. The immobility of our bodies promotes this.

This is why eating late at night is not recommended as our inactive state will prevent enzymes and stomach acids from converting it to energy. This causes the“bloated feeling.”