10(X) Reasons Why We Get Tired When Stay Up Too Late

The modern society is shaped in such a way that there are endless reasons to stay up late. Convenience stores and supermarkets have started to accommodate this increased need by operating round the clock, 7 days a week. The availability of internet access has also opened up a world of possibilities, eliminating physical boundaries and time differences.

Financial institutions are now required to offer 24-hour support for their clientele spread across the globe, online gaming enthusiasts can also indulge in favorite pastime without being constrained by their physical location. More worryingly, the competitive nature of the academic world has seen many students stretch their physical limitations in order to excel in their field, unwittingly sacrificing precious sleep in the process.

It seems inevitable that the world is moving towards a culture that emphasizes on long waking hours and surviving on minimal rest. As a result, this creates the need to educate individuals on the underlying mechanisms that induce the feeling of tiredness whenever night falls. Armed with adequate knowledge, each individual will then be well suited to make informed decisions on whether to sacrifice their sleep or to push back their deadlines.

Established Scientific Discoveries
Arguably the most notable piece of scientific literature was recently published by John Hopkins Medicine in May 2016. In exploring the reason behind the onset of sleepiness during night time, the experts studied fruit flies as they possess almost identical sleep patterns as compared to human beings. The scientists were of the opinion that a specific brain enhancement supplement is responsible for this cause and effect.

The primary role of this brain cell group is to regulate the sleep drive of each fruit fly. When the fruit flies are kept awake for an extended period of time, the scientists discovered that their sleep drive became more active, creating the feeling of tiredness. At the same time, the same set of brain cells is also influential in inducing sleep and prolonging their sleep experience. The landmark study examined a total of 500 fruit flies and recorded their brain’s neuron activities throughout.

In tabulating all the information gathered, the scientists compared each data based on the state of the fruit flies, dividing them into the following three categories: sleep-deprived, awake, or sleeping. The results showed that for well-rested fruit flies, the neurons were least active and fired only once per second. For fruit flies that were at least an hour into their sleep cycle, the neurons increased its rate to four times per second. However, the most astonishing discovery was made in the sleep-deprived group. In this category of fruit flies, the neurons were most active and fired up to seven times per second.

The significance of this study offers valuable insights into human sleep disorders and opens up new possibilities for medical professionals to explore other viable treatments. Interestingly, this could also lead to the formulation of new supplements that can help individuals stay up late without having to deal with the onset of sleepiness. Regardless of the application, it offers a promising future towards improving the quality of life.

Other Contributing Factors
In every human being, a circadian rhythm exists to serve as the body’s biological clock. This system regulates most of the bodily functions and abides by the laws of time. Wakefulness and sleep are considered as major components of the circadian rhythm. In laymen’s terms, this rhythm can be used to describe the brain’s process of charging during sleep, similar to a battery cell. When an individual is awake, the brain starts to discharge its energy to aid an individual in carrying out the necessary duties.

In addition, the function of this rhythm is affected by the presence of light. This explains why individuals who are exposed to shift work tend to suffer from extreme drowsiness or sleepiness during their working hours. Their internal system is essentially dealing with a major conflict, as the lack of light induces sleep but their physical state is preoccupied with the work at hand. Similarly, they will experience trouble falling asleep during the day due to the overwhelming presence of light that signals the brain to stay awake.

Conclusion
According to an article published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the amount of sleep an individual requires depends on a variety of factors. Teenagers generally require up to 9 hours of sleep daily while adults only need 8 hours. This requirement increases significantly when an individual is sleep-deprived and its effects are magnified during night time when conditions are at its peak to induce sleep.

One of the proven theories that results in the onset of sleepiness is the presence of sleep drive in the human brain. When night falls, the group of brain cells responsible for this sleep drive gets activated and sends signals throughout the body to induce sleep. This set of brain cells is mainly active during the night. In situations where an individual is sleep-deprived, the brain cells become highly agitated, firing neurons at a rate of seven per second as compared to its resting rate of one per second. Another proven fact is the existence of a circadian rhythm in the human body that dictates whether the conditions are ideal to inducing sleep. Naturally, this rhythm is accustomed to sleep during night time. The combination of both systems mentioned above results in the feeling of sleepiness whenever night falls.

References:

http://www.lifeandexperiences.com/how-to-reduce-your-signs-of-aging-with-beauty-sleep/
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm