What happens to your body when you are asleep

Sleep is an essential process that allows the body to rest, repair, and restore itself. During sleep, your body undergoes a series of changes that enable you to rest. Here are some of the things that happen to your body when you sleep:

Brain activity: Upon falling asleep, thousands of neurons in the brain switch from waking to sleeping state, sending signals throughout the body. During sleep, the brain engages in processes of recovery and memory consolidation.

Breathing and heart rate: Breathing and heart rate slow down, and blood pressure drops.

Muscle relaxation: Muscles gradually relax during each stage of non-REM sleep, and the body’s total energy expenditure drops. During the REM stage, most muscles are paralyzed in a condition known as atonia, which keeps the legs and arms from flailing in response to dream content.

Immune system function: Sleep reinforces the immune system and helps regulate metabolism.

Restoration: Sleep allows for the body to repair and replete cellular components necessary for biological functions that become depleted throughout an awake day.

It’s best to wake up from naps after stage 2 sleep, before going into the deeper stages.