According to the latest reports, poor sleep is causing toxic brain buildup, but exercise has been shown to help detox and reduce sleep debt as well. Here are the latest reports about the matter below.
Detoxing the brain following poor sleep
If you are waking up feeling groggy despite having a full eight hours of sleep, it could be a sign that your body is trying to tell you something.
Poor sleep can have a negative impact on your body in ways that may not be immediately apparent. While getting more sleep may seem like the obvious solution, recent research suggests that feeling refreshed and well-rested may actually depend on how you spend your waking hours.
“‘Sleeping well’ may refer to objective measurements of sleep based on the brain’s electrical activity during sleep cycles, which include light sleep, deep sleep, and REM—or dream—sleep,” Dr. John Saito, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), said.
“If any part of the sleep cycle is disrupted or absent, sleep specialists will consider it as poor-quality sleep,” he noted. Dr. Saito emphasized the importance of every aspect of the sleep cycle by comparing it to the running of a washing machine for restorative purposes.
“How long it takes to complete a wash load depends on multiple variables, including the load size, the water level, and the machine’s capacity,” he said. “Therefore, it’s no surprise that it may take a longer amount of time and multiple cycles to completely clean a heavily stained jacket compared to a lightly soiled undergarment.”
When we sleep, our brain cleans itself by removing metabolic waste products that accumulate during the day. According to Dr. Saito, if this cleaning process is shortened, it becomes difficult for the brain to remove all the waste products.
This leads to a build-up of toxic metabolic byproducts in the brain, which can cause physiological symptoms associated with sleep deprivation.
The accumulation of these harmful waste materials in the brain can cause various health problems as the brain cannot adequately clear them.
According to the same notes, sleep specialists suggest a set of guidelines for maintaining good sleep hygiene. These guidelines comprise avoiding eating before bedtime, avoiding any stimulating activities before sleep, ensuring the bedroom is cool, and relaxing in a dimly lit room before attempting to sleep.
