Are you Aware of the 5 Stages In Your Sleep Cycle
An often talked about subject is our rest requirements for maintaining good health and proper rest during the sleep cycle. This subject takes many factors into consideration, including your age, sex, your genes, and even how much sleep you’ve gotten just lately. One thing that most experts do agree on, however, is that “quality sleep” is absolutely essential for optimum health and longevity.
But what exactly is “quality sleep?”
There are five different stages of sleep we need to concern ourselves with. Read the following list to get a brief description of each.
* Stage 1 – Transition – Maybe only 5-10 minutes, this stage doesn’t last too long, while your body slows down and tries to relax. At this stage, you are very susceptible to being awakened by any disturbance.
* Stage 2 – Light Sleep – Entering into this stage can last up to around 30 minutes. As your body temperature dips, your heart will slow down slightly, your breathing is relaxed and you’ll begin to slip into true sleep mode.
* Stage 3 – Deep Sleep – In this stage, it’s pretty tough to wake you up. If you’re awakened during deep sleep, you may feel very groggy and even confused and “out of it”.
* Stage 4 – Deeper Sleep – During this stage, your body is reaping all the benefits of sleep. Not only are you getting much needed rest, but your body is actually repairing and healing itself.
* Stage 5 – REM Sleep – You typically enter REM sleep after 90 minutes or so of sleep. This is the stage where dreaming normally occurs. During REM, your heart rate will increase and your hands and feet may actually twitch. On average, adults spend 20-25 percent of sleep in REM. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement.
These different stages of sleep form what is called a sleep cycle. Your body transitions between these stages of sleep during the night, alternating between deep, restorative sleep to more lighter stages, several times during the period you spend in bed.
Most typical adults requires somewhere between 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Anything less than this can lead to sleep deprivation, which will leave a person feeling lethargic in the afternoon, or make it hard to get out of bed when the alarm clock goes off. And it’s not only the amount of time you spend in bed, but the actual quality of sleep that you experience which can affect the way you feel, especially the amount of deep sleep you may be getting.
Deep sleep is vitally important for your good health. During this time of sleep, the body healing itself and building up energy for what lies ahead. Of all the different stages of sleep, deep sleep is considered to be the most important. Being awakened repeatedly during deep sleep can lead to being constantly tired, having trouble concentrating and also feeling sleepy after a big meal.
Studies have shown deprivation of deep sleep can also lead to a number of health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased risk of heart disease. A few of the things that can lead to decreased deep sleep time are being awakened in the middle of deep sleep, working off shifts and trying to sleep during daytime hours, and also drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes in the evening.
All the different stages of sleep are important, but deep sleep is absolutely important in order for you to awake feeling rested and refreshed. It is also extremely beneficial to your overall good health and well being. It’s not just the amount of time spent in bed that is important, but the overall quality of your sleep as well.
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