Acknowledgement
We would also like to acknowledge the use of information from the Parkinson’s Disease Society fact sheet Sleep and Night-time Problems in Parkinson’s
Our thanks also to Professor K Ray Chaudhuri1 and Dr Sharon Muzerengi2 for their help in reviewing this article.
Sleep is the regular period in every 24 hours when consciousness is suspended and we become unaware of our environment. It is a natural state of rest for both the body and mind which helps keep us healthy. Whilst we sleep the nervous system is inactive, hormones are released into the bloodstream and the body has an opportunity to recuperate from the day’s activities.
Whilst scientists aren’t exactly sure why, regular sleep is necessary for survival. It’s healing powers are not fully understood, yet it is accepted that sleep is essential to maintaining normal levels of cognitive skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking. In other words, it is widely believed sleep plays a significant role in brain development.
According to the British Sleep Council, sleep – or the lack of it – is one of the most common 21st century health complaints.
We spend around one third of our lives sleeping. Most adults need around seven or eight hours sleep each night, although some people need less than four and others need more than 10.
An important system in the body that involves the brain, spine and the nerves. Responsible for the body’s contacts and responses to the external world and also its internal communication.
