For something that we spend almost one-third of our lives doing, not many of us know why this relaxing past time is essential to our survival. Sleep is a biological necessity, much like drinking water and breathing air.
Sleep serves numerous purposes:
- It modulates body temperature
- It helps conserve energy
- It allows us to maintain an adequate weight
- It ensures a normal immune system
But most importantly of all, it allows our brain to keep working. Without sleep, our brain starts to shut down. Whilst no person has been known to die of sleep deprivation, studies in animals have shown it to happen.