In the heart of big cities, where the lights are on at night and the sound of cars and horns never ceases, deep sleep becomes a real challenge. But noise doesn't just steal our physical comfort... it also infiltrates our dreams.
How Does the Brain Work During Sleep?
During sleep, the brain goes through several stages, the most important of which are:
• Light sleep (N1 – N2)
• Deep sleep (N3)
• Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is the stage in which most dreaming occurs.
When we hear noise during sleep, even if we don't wake up, the brain remains in a semi-alert state, which can interrupt access to deep sleep or normal dreaming.
The Effect of Noise on Dreams
1. Interrupted or Disorganized Dreams
Noise may interrupt the dream sequence, causing you to suddenly jump from one scene to another without a connection.
2. Sound-Associated Dreams
Sometimes, the brain incorporates real sounds into the dream. For example, if you hear a car horn in your dream, it seems like it's part of the story.
3. Decreased Dream Recall
Noise prevents you from entering REM sleep for a sufficient period of time, reducing the clarity or recall of your dreams in the morning.
4. Increased Nightmares
Constant noise can create feelings of stress and anxiety even during sleep, increasing the likelihood of disturbing dreams.
Side Effects on Mental and Physical Health
• Morning fatigue even after sufficient hours of sleep.
• Poor concentration during the day.
• Increased stress and cortisol levels.
• Weakened immune system in the long term.
How can we protect our sleep from city noise?
1. Use earplugs or white noise machines.
2. Rearrange the room so that the bed is away from windows overlooking the street.
3. Plant indoor plants or use thick curtains to block out sound.
4. Schedule bedtimes when noise is relatively low (after midnight).
Conclusion
Loud cities may not sleep, but we need them to. Protecting our sleep means protecting our health and our dreams as well. Even noise that doesn't wake us up can rob us of our peace of mind in the dream world.
Sleeping in Noisy Cities: How Does Noise Affect Our Dreams?
In the heart of big cities, where the lights are on at night and the sound of cars and horns never ceases, deep sleep becomes a real challenge. But noise doesn't just rob us of our physical comfort...it also infiltrates our dreams.
How Does the Brain Work During Sleep?
During sleep, the brain goes through several stages, the most important of which are:
• Light sleep (N1 – N2)
• Deep sleep (N3)
• Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which is the stage in which most dreaming occurs.
When we hear noise during sleep, even if we don't wake up, the brain remains in a state of semi-alertness, which can interrupt access to deep sleep or normal dreaming.
The Effect of Noise on Dreams
1. Interrupted or Disorganized Dreams
Noise may interrupt the dream sequence, causing you to suddenly jump from one scene to another without a connection.
2. Sound-Associated Dreams
Sometimes, the brain incorporates real sounds into a dream. For example, hearing a car horn in your dream as if it were part of the story.
3. Decreased Dream Recall
Noise prevents you from entering REM sleep for a sufficient period of time, reducing the clarity or recall of your dreams in the morning.
4. Increased Nightmares
Constant noise can create feelings of stress and anxiety even during sleep, increasing the likelihood of disturbing dreams.
Side Effects on Mental and Physical Health
• Morning fatigue, even after adequate sleep.
• Poor concentration during the day.
• Increased stress and cortisol levels.
• Weakened immune system in the long term.
How can we protect our sleep from city noise?
1. Use earplugs or white noise machines.
2. Rearrange the room so that the bed is away from windows overlooking the street.
3. Plant indoor plants or use thick curtains to block out sound.
4. Schedule sleep for times when noise is relatively low (after midnight).
Conclusion
Noisy cities may not sleep, but we need them to. Protecting our sleep means protecting our health and our dreams, too. Even noise that doesn't wake us up can rob us of our peace of mind in the dream world.
Al _ Mustaqbal University, the first university in Iraq
Prepared by: Shahad Nawras Abbas