Page 72 - BBC - The Scientific Guide to a Healthier You
P. 72
400-750 hours
of sleep are lost by parents in
the first year of their baby’s life
$10 billion
THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE
SLEEP INDUSTRY BY 2020
o-one knows exactly
Nwhy we sleep.
of Britons say Personal experience tells us
that stress we need it. After all, who isn’t
keeps them grouchy after a bad night?
But what can science tell us about
awake at night
our need to nod off every night?
Scientists agree that sleep is crucial
for our well-being and research
reveals all sorts of benefits, such as
enhanced memory consolidation.
16-19°C
They also know it’s important for
is the ideal temperature
growing, and changing, bodies, as
for a good night’s sleep if
teenagers need as much sleep as
you’re wearing pyjamas small children. So far, scientists have
managed to identify many of the
biological processes associated with
WOMEN NEED
the stages of sleep. But big questions
AROUND 20 MINUTES remain, such as why do we dream?
EXTRA SLEEP A NIGHT Most discoveries have happened in
COMPARED TO MEN the last 25 years, so more answers
may be just around the corner.
In the meantime, read on to find
Avoid consuming out about the latest discoveries
Artificial from the land of nod…
lights have caffeine at least
changed 4 hours
our natural
sleeping before going to bed
patterns
