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During sleep, the body's organs actually work normally. Even if you don't realize it, the important organs are always working so that your health remains stable. Then, how do the organs work during sleep?
Work of body organs during sleep
What are the organs that continue to function during sleep and what is the process like? Here's the answer.
1. Brain
Brain activity will decrease when you start to go to sleep. This function then increases again when you enter a deeper phase of sleep, known as REM (rapid eye movement).
In this phase, more blood flows to the brain and increases the metabolic rate. Your brain will also limit the movement of your body so you don't move too much during dreaming.
Even though you are asleep, the work of this one organ is actually fairly active. This is because your brain is sorting through the information it has acquired that day to produce the long-term memory it needs. Meanwhile, other memories will be stored first for future use.
2. Lungs
Your lungs will continue to work while you are asleep because your body needs to breathe in order to carry out its functions. When you wake up, your breathing rate is usually irregular because it is affected by your posture, physical activity, speech, and other factors. On the other hand, the work of these organs decreases during sleep and makes your breathing more regular.
3. Heart
Like the brain, the activity of this one organ decreases when you sleep. The activity of this organ will only increase again once you enter the REM phase. During this phase, the work of the heart as one of the body's most important organs changes just as it does when it is awakened.
Changes in heart rate affect blood flow and pressure so that the rest of your body can experience its effects. One example is an erection in men even though there is no sexual stimulation. This is a normal condition that occurs due to increased blood flow to the penis.
4. Body temperature
During sleep, the body's temperature regulation center decreases by 1-2 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a good thing for the body, because a lower temperature can help make it easier to fall asleep.
Your body will also adjust itself by reducing more heat for a better sleep. At its peak, your body temperature will drop to its lowest point when your sleep enters the REM phase. The body temperature will then gradually normalize near the time you wake up in the morning.
5. Hormonal glands
Different types of hormones undergo changes when you fall asleep. The thyroid gland is actively producing growth hormone. Meanwhile, the hormone cortisol, which is one of the stressors, begins to decrease during sleep and returns to rise before waking up.
The hormone melatonin, which functions in the sleep cycle, also changes during sleep. The difference is, this hormone works in the opposite way to the hormone cortisol, which increases before bedtime to induce sleepiness and decreases before waking up.
The work of the body organs can increase and decrease while you sleep. However, its function remains the same, namely adjusting the balance in your body so that sleep becomes a restorative process. That way, you can wake up refreshed and ready to start tomorrow.
