The Stages of Sleep and How They Benefit the Body
While sleep is still something of a mystery, researchers have determined that there are distinct stages of sleep that a person goes through if they get a full night's rest. The exact function behind each is still being studied, but scientists have come up with at least a few reasons behind the stages. Here's a brief look at them.
Some of you may already be familiar with the sleep stages of REM and Non-REM sleep. REM stand for Rapid Eye Movement and is a distinct period of rest by itself. Non-REM is actually divided into 4 different stages of sleep. Each part of the sleep cycle benefits us in a unique way.
The stages of sleep actually start with the Non-REM stages. The beginning stage or stage one is where a person first lies down and closes their eyes. The brain begins to ramp down activity and start the process of shifting the body into sleep mode. The person is still aware of things and can be easily awakened at this point. On average this part of the process only lasts a few minutes.
Stage two of the sleep stages is the following period of light sleep. The heart rate slows and body temp lowers. The body is finalizing the process of falling asleep and is getting ready for deep sleep. It is during the deep stages of sleep that the body performs a number of functions including repair of various tissues, constructing bone and muscle mass and recharges our energy and immune systems. Most of our health issues from sleeplessness are a result in a decrease or a lack of the next two stages where deep sleep occurs as well as REM sleep.
Sleep stages 3 and 4 are really similar with one being deeper than the other. Sometimes called delta sleep after the type of brain wave activity recorded while studying people during sleep at these stages, the body is fully asleep. Trying to wake someone during these two periods of rest is difficult and a person will most likely take awhile to fully awaken if aroused during one of these stages of sleep.
REM sleep is a sleep stage that occurs after a person has been asleep for a while (hour and a half to two hours). It lasts for several minutes and then the body shifts out of it back into deep sleep. The body then shifts back into REM again later and for a longer period of time. This back and forth pattern can happen several times during an 8 hour rest. The exact reasons behind this are not fully known. What researchers do know is that brain activity during REM sleep is almost as active as when a person is awake. The REM sleep stages are where most of our dreaming happens.
In order for our sleep to be effective we must have enough time to allow for several cycles of Non-REM and REM sleep. If we miss out on any of these stages of sleep then our sleep is less restful and we tend to suffer increased risk of health issues either physically or mentally. When considering how to get a good nights sleep it is important to look at lifestyle, diet, exercise and other factors that affect our sleep. Changes in these areas tend to bring about the most lasting results in our sleep quality.
If that doesn't work or you have difficult with any of the sleep stages for other reasons it may be necessary to look at prescription sleep medicines or natural supplements to help you get your full rest. Be care though and discuss this with a knowledgeable health professional familiar with both. Drugs can have serious side effects and should be a last resort. Supplements are safer in general, but can interact with other prescriptions you may be taking so it is a good idea to check. Just know that it is possible to get solid rest if you really want to. All it takes is some effort and research on your part.
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