India, Feb. 19 -- Sleep is not a luxury - it is a biological necessity. Getting seven to eight hours each night is essential for physical recovery, cognitive performance, hormonal balance and resetting the body's circadian rhythm. From memory consolidation and emotional regulation to immune function and metabolic health, nearly every system in the body depends on adequate rest. Yet many people underestimate its impact or misunderstand how it truly works.

Shedding light on lesser-known aspects of sleep, Dr Kunal Sood, an anaesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine physician, shared five surprising facts you may not have known, in an Instagram video posted on February 16.

According to Dr Sood, it typically takes about 10 to 20 minu...