{"id":1629,"date":"2023-01-16T16:03:49","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T16:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integrativa.pt\/?p=1629"},"modified":"2026-02-01T18:15:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T18:15:15","slug":"the-importance-of-a-good-nights-sleep-in-regulating-the-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integrativa.pt\/en\/a-importancia-de-uma-boa-noite-de-sono-na-regulacao-do-organismo\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of a good night's sleep in regulating the body"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A bad night's sleep can have effects comparable to a state of slight inebriation, particularly in terms of reduced motor coordination and reasoning ability. Sleep deprivation is associated with impatience, irritability, memory failures, mood swings, difficulty concentrating and low energy levels. When persistent, it can contribute to states of emotional exhaustion, depressive symptoms and an increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n

Given this data, it is legitimate to question the attention paid to sleep in everyday life.<\/p>\n

Sleep is a fundamental pillar of health, along with nutrition, physical activity and emotional care. It is an essential biological process, involved in repairing and maintaining the human being's biopsychosocial balance.<\/p>\n

It is now known that sleep plays a decisive role in energy recovery, metabolic balance and physical and mental development. During sleep, the body activates mechanisms to repair the physical and cognitive wear and tear accumulated throughout the day, ensuring essential functions for its overall functioning.<\/p>\n

Why do we sleep<\/h4>\n

From an evolutionary point of view, sleep may seem paradoxical, since it implies prolonged periods of inactivity and greater vulnerability, which in the past, in natural environments, increased the risk of predation. However, sleep is essential for the brain to function. It is during this period that memory is consolidated, reinforcing relevant experiences and eliminating those that are not adaptively useful.<\/p>\n

During deep sleep, the brain activates the glymphatic system, a purification mechanism that allows the elimination of neurotoxic substances accumulated during wakefulness. This process is considered important for maintaining neurological health throughout life.<\/p>\n

Sleep deprivation in today's context<\/h4>\n

In modern society, sleep deprivation is often associated with environmental and social factors, such as<\/p>\n