THE EFFECT OF SLEEP ON HUMAN HEALTH: PHYSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
Keywords:
sleep physiology, sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm, REM sleep, NREM sleep, melatonin, health consequences, cognitive function, immune system.Abstract
Sleep is a fundamental physiological process essential for maintaining homeostasis, neurological function, immune competence, and metabolic regulation. Despite its universal biological necessity, chronic sleep deprivation has become a major public health concern in modern society, particularly among students and healthcare workers. This article reviews the physiological mechanisms of sleep, including its stages and circadian regulation, and examines the documented consequences of insufficient sleep on cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and cognitive function. The aim of this work is to consolidate current physiological knowledge on sleep and provide a scientific basis for understanding its indispensable role in human health. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Findings confirm that adequate sleep — 7 to 9 hours per night for adults — is not a passive state but an active, highly organized physiological process whose disruption carries measurable and clinically significant health consequences.
