Sleeping while standing is an excellent skill that every person probably dreamed about at least once in his life. But the human body is designed in such a way that he can fully sleep only when lying or at least sitting.
Physiology of sleep
Sleep is a natural state of the body during which it minimally reacts to the outside world. Mammals, fish, birds and other animals can sleep. This is a vital condition that allows the body to recover.
Interesting fact: Every year since 2008, World Sleep Day has been celebrated. It falls on Friday of the second week of March - before the vernal equinox. This day is selected by the International Association of Sleep Medicine.
For sleep, a certain daily cycle is characteristic, provided that the person observes the regime of wakefulness and rest. There is the concept of a biological clock or circadian rhythms.
The fact is that in our body there are various processes depending on the time of day. In order to feel good, a person must be awake during the day and sleep at night. These are circadian rhythms. Many make a serious mistake by constantly falling asleep and waking up at different times, devoting an insufficient number of hours to rest.
The basic structure of sleep is represented by three stages:
- falling asleep;
- sleep (fast and slow);
- awakening.
Each stage has its own characteristics, signs and functions. The main dream is also divided into many stages.It has invaluable benefits for the body, namely:
- allows the body to relax;
- restores immunity;
- helps the brain process and store information;
- allows the nervous system to monitor and regulate the work of organs;
- cleanses the body of toxins.
What happens to the body during sleep?
The basis of sleep is the slowdown of all processes in the body. These include lowering temperature, blood pressure, slowing blood circulation, heart rate, and breathing.
All these changes seem insignificant. For example, temperature drops by a degree, pressure - by no more than 5-7 mmHg. But for the body, these are significant indications. At the same time, organs and systems also slow down.
The digestive system is much slower. Related to this is the fact that it is not recommended to eat food before bedtime. Otherwise, the digestive system will have to work and the quality of sleep will noticeably worsen.
Interesting fact: in a dream a person hears well, but does not smell. Thanks to this, you can wake up due to sharp or loud sounds, an alarm clock ringing. But smells, even strong enough, can turn out to be unnoticed for a sound asleep.
Other processes:
- the spine is straightened and extended (up to 1 cm);
- metabolism decreases, a certain amount of water and other substances is lost;
- skin is rejuvenated;
- hormones are actively produced.
Why can you sleep only lying or sitting?
Sleep in a standing position is not combined with all those changes that occur in the body during rest.Along with organs and various systems, the musculoskeletal system also seeks to relax and recover.
When a person lies, most of the muscles are in a state of complete rest. We don’t think about it, but the body does a serious job to maintain the vertical position of the body. The muscles of the legs are most involved.
In addition, the vestibular apparatus works, which in combination with muscle receptors ensures that the body is perfectly aligned. It is worth bending a little, as the brain immediately receives a signal - something is wrong, you need to urgently take the correct position.
Similar sensations arise when a person loses balance. The thought of this has not yet been fully formed, and the body is already making sharp movements so as not to fall. Therefore, even if a person falls asleep while standing, he will immediately fall: the brain is resting, the muscles are relaxing.
You can fall while sitting, but the quality of such a dream also leaves much to be desired. In this position, the muscles of the neck and head tighten. With severe fatigue, the body is easily immersed in sleep, but exactly until the moment the muscles relax completely. Then there is a sharp awakening due to the fact that the head suddenly drops down.
Sleep is a necessary component of life that provides health and well-being. It is very important to observe the mode and hygiene of sleep. Sleeping in a standing position is not possible, since most of the muscles that hold the body upright relax during relaxation. When the brain goes into sleep, it ceases to control these muscles - the sleeping person will immediately begin to fall and wake up.
