GOOD HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1930, Page 19 (Supplement)

GOOD HEALTH.

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP.

(By H. C. Aylen.)

There are some false notions about regarding sleep, and people are often dubbed. "lazy” if they are inclined to sleep more than the usual 6 even or eight hours. But it should be remembered that the faster the pace of lifearid it i<s so fast nowadays that many good people are feeling compelled to withdraw from the race—the greater the need for long hours of recuperation. Our forefathers did not riecd so many, hours of sleep as do their descendants. They tired more slowly. But in those days there were no railroads, bicycles, motors, telegraphs, telephones, typewriters; there were fewer disturbing influences, in fact, and folk could live without perpetual nervous strain. To spend more nervous energy each day than cap be evolved from rest and food is to become, sooner or later, physically bankrupt. There is. but little fear that any one who leads an active life will sleep too much. You who are exhausted and worn out should add one or two hours to your resting time each night, and thus gain enough in nervous power and control to enable you to live without artificial stimulation.

It seems to be an accepted fact by physiologists that ultimate nutrition takes place mainly when the body is in a quiescent state. lienee, unconsciousness represents, the best condition tor nutrition, and normal unconsciousness is sleep. It is when the brain and whole nervops system are in repose that exhausted force, and the power to direct its expression, can bent be renewed. It is true that mere resting wi|l often, enable a. person to recover from fatigue, but the more profound rest secured by sleep is needed in order that the biain and nervous system may be “fed” each twenty-four hours to such a degree that health and strength are maintained-