Persuasive Essay Why Do We Sleep

The Reasons Why People Sleep and How Much Sleep We Need in A 24-hour Period

INTRODUCTION

Stedman’s Medical Dictionary defines sleep as “a natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli.” Sleeping makes people feel better and more energetic. We are able to function optimally throughout the day. If we don’t get enough sleep that we need, we tend to be weak and worse which generally explain why sleep is very important. However, why do we really sleep? Are there any deeper and accurate reasons why our body needs to sleep? If so, how much sleep do we need every day? Does it vary especially when people start to age? This paper will explain the different views of science as to why we sleep and the required amount of hours we need to sleep in a 24-hour period.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

Sleep - a natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli

Theory – a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles

This is what they call the restorative theories. While we are awake, our body tends to use more energy required to function. This doesn’t only work for humans but for animals, as well, which lead to many scientists and researchers to support this idea. One of the strongest evidence that support this theory is when researchers found out that an organism’s immune system tends to get weak and may soon die due to not sleeping. The restorative functions in our body including “muscle growth, tissue repair, protein synthesis, and growth hormone” (Porkka-Heiskanen, 1999, p. 126) take place while we