Most people need at least eight hours of sleep a night in order to function properly. The sleep cycles that many folks go through can have adverse effects on this requirement.
The sleep cycles are called REM and non REM. These are important factors that are the difference between good and bad sleep. REM sleep is the type that is the rapid eye movement phase that is mostly associated with dreaming. Non REM is the deeper based sleep that has four stages that gradually go deeper and deeper.
This is a person’s internal clock at work. The human body controls this with heavier and lighter sleeping functions. These are the types of sleep that was previously discussed, the REM and Non REM. These REM’s go through the different stages.
Stage one is considered the drowsy stage. This is the stage that usually only last for a few minutes. It is your body’s way of telling you that you are tired and should get some rest or sleep. This is also the part that most people constantly and consistently attempt to fight off. This stage is commonly associated with the quick eye movements.
Stage two is considered the light sleep stage. This is when the body slows functions such as heart rate and eye movements. It also is the stage that lowers the overall body temperature. This is why most people feel chilled when they first wake up.
Stage three is the deep sleep stage. Stage four is also associated with this too. This occurs about an hour after being in stage two. A normal person may have three or more of these stages per night and will fluctuate between stages two and three or four throughout the night, or day if you are one that works through the night. This is the stage that does the most good for the body. This stage helps the body to get proper rest by eliminating stress. This is the stage that aids in the retention of many memories. This is also the stage that begins to rise a body’s blood pressure.
REM sleep is considered the dream stage. This is why many folks do not remember their dreams. Because the dream stage is directly before the deep stage. It is the deep stage that is more associated with the memory, therefore, the dream stage is basically forgotten by the time deep sleep is entered. However, if one does remember a dream, it is most likely that they were woken up during the dream stage or stage two.
When one considers sleep, they look at it as just that, getting sleep. Many do not realize that our bodies go through these sleep cycles each and every night and that there is a reason for it.
Hoe Bing is a graduate neuroscientist and doctor who wants you to have the best nights sleep you have ever had. Learn how you can sleep better, deeper and wake up more refreshed by visiting better sleep tonight.