Sleep Part 1: The Biology of Sleep

Disclaimer: the views, information, or opinions expressed during the PWG wellchat podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Pediatric Wellness Group [PWG] and its employees. PWG is not responsible for and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast series is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.This podcast is available for private, non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify, or redistribute this podcast. PWG and the developers of this podcast assume no liability for any activities in connection with this podcast.Here's an outline of our second episode:What does it do? How much do you need? Varies according to age Biology and science of sleep 2 basic stages: REM [rapid eye movement] and non-REM sleep [which has 3 different stages] and you cycle through these several times per night Non-REM Stage 3 is the deep sleep you need to feel refreshed in the morning, usually have longer periods of this during the first half of the night Circadian rhythm [or body clock] controls timing of sleep Chemical signals or neurotransmitters GABA is associated with sleep, muscle relaxation, sedation Norepinephrine and orexin keep brain active while we are awake Acetylcholine, histamine, adrenaline, cortisol and serotonin all impact sleep and wakefulness Genetics How can you tell you are getting good sleep? When should I worry about not getting enough sleep? Resources Matthew Walker at UC Berkeley  Center for human sleep science Why We Sleep NIH WebMDMayo Clinichttps://www.sleep.org/articles/sleep-quantity-different-sleep-quality/