Idiot's guide to sleep Chapter 1: Why do we sleep?

To understand Narcolepsy, it is often easier to first understand normal sleep. Basically, before you can understand what is wrong with us oddballs , you have to be able to grasp what healthy sleep is. I will cover this topic throughout multiple posts.

The first question isn't really how do we sleep, but WHY do we sleep?

Sleeping is basically way of rebooting our system.

According to WebMD:

When you sleep, your body rests and restores its energy levels. However, sleep is an active state that affects both your physical and mental well-being. A good night's sleep is often the best way to help you cope with stress, solve problems, or recover from illness.

And for those of you looking for more scientific details, Wikipedia's article states:

Sleep is the state of natural rest observed in most mammals, birds, fish, as well as invertebrates such as the fruitfly Drosophila. It is characterized by a reduction in voluntary body movement, decreased reaction to external stimuli, an increased rate of anabolism (the synthesis of cell structures), and a decreased rate of catabolism (the breakdown of cell structures). In humans, mammals and many other animals which have been studied, such as fish, birds, mice and fruitflies, regular sleep is necessary for survival. The capability for arousal from sleep is a protective mechanism and also necessary for health and survival. Sleep is not synonymous with unconsciousness.