At DreamCare, we believe that good sleep is the foundation of a good life. But what happens during sleep is often more impressive than you think. In this blog post, we delve deeper into the glymphatic system: your brain's natural cleansing system. And we'll show you why deep sleep is so much more than just rest.
Your brain cleans itself — but only when you're actually asleep
During the day, your brain uses a tremendous amount of energy. This releases waste products that eventually need to be cleared. Think of metabolic waste products, inflammatory substances, and stress hormones like cortisol. These can build up if your brain doesn't have the time and space to do so. That cleanup process? It only truly happens during deep sleep—and even then, only in certain phases.
The Glymphatic System: Your Brain Detoxifier
You could think of the glymphatic system as a kind of lymphatic system, but specifically for your brain. It works with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which actively flows through your brain tissue. In doing so, it essentially pushes waste products out from between your brain cells, then removes them via the blood or CSF. This happens especially when your brain cells shrink—something that happens almost exclusively during deep sleep.
Your sleeping position makes a difference
Recent research shows that your sleeping position can influence how efficiently this system works. For example, sleeping on your side—particularly your left side—may improve the functioning of the glymphatic system. This is because the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid is then less obstructed. While the research is still in its early stages, it does reveal how sensitive and intelligent your body is during rest.
What if you don't get enough deep sleep?
When your sleep is too light, too short, or interrupted, the lymphatic system has less time to function. This can lead to a buildup of waste products. This is associated with:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mental fatigue or 'brain fog'
- Increased sensitivity to stress
- Long-term risks for cognitive decline
What you can do to support your deep sleep:
We often say it: small choices make a big difference. This helps:
- Regular sleeping times, including weekends
- A cool, well-ventilated bedroom
- A wind-down routine without screens
- Moderate or no alcohol and caffeine in the evening
- Prefer to sleep on your side rather than on your back or stomach
A small habit that is helping more and more people is using an anti-snoring mouthpiece. Snoring can disrupt your sleep—not just your partner's, but your own as well. DreamCare snoring mouthpiece Helps keep your airway clear, which helps you sleep more peacefully. This doesn't automatically mean you'll fall into a deep sleep, but it does reduce the chance of waking up or getting out of your rhythm. And it's precisely that rest that makes it easier to reach those restorative phases.
Want to know more about how deep sleep works and how you can improve it? Then read our blog: A Deep Dive into Deep Sleep: Understanding, Benefits, and Tips to Achieve It
Parts:
Sleeping poorly? Here's what cognitive behavioral therapy can do.
Why you sleep worse when you know you have to get up early