When you go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning, you probably don’t give much thought to the time in between. Sometimes you have dreams. Sometimes you don’t. Something you feel restful. Other times, it is challenging to get up. A night of sleep is made up of multiple stages. If you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, you might not be reaching all of the stages of sleep. This can be detrimental to your health. Read on to learn about the different sleep stages and why they are so important.
Stage One: Light Sleep
When you first start drifting off to sleep, your eye movements will slow down, and your body will remain alert to a certain degree. However, outside stimuli could still easily wake you for these few minutes. This stage only lasts between five to ten minutes. This stage can be considered as a transition period between wakefulness and sleep. If someone wakes up during this time, they might not even realize that they were asleep.
Stage Two: Fairly Light Sleep
During the second stage, your body temperature drops, and your breathing and heart rate become more regular. You become less aware of your surroundings. At this point, your brain produces bursts of rapid, rhythmic brainwave activity called “sleep spindles.” The American Sleep Foundation reports that approximately 50% of sleep happens at this stage.
Stage Three: Deep Sleep
This stage causes your muscles to relax. Your blood pressure and breathing rate drop. This is when you are sleeping the deepest. You are less responsive to noise and activity around you. Deep, slow brain waves called “delta waves” emerge at this time. This is your body’s chance to repair the muscles and tissues that were damaged during the day. This is also crucial for growth and development in children and teenagers.
Stage Four: REM Sleep
REM is an abbreviated for “rapid eye movement.” During this stage, your brain becomes more active, your body becomes relaxed, and your eyes move rapidly. This is the time of night when you are most likely to have dreams due to the increased brain activity.
How Does Sleep Apnea Affect the Stages of Sleep?
If you have a sleep disorder, like obstructive sleep apnea, that wakes you in the night, you won’t be spending as much time in the third and fourth stages of sleep. Most of the sleep you have will take place in stages one and two. Your physical and mental health can suffer as a result. For instance, lacking sleep results in weaker immunity, high blood pressure, memory issues, mood changes, and more! These issues only get worse as time goes on.
If you are feeling fatigued during the day or are experiencing other signs of sleep apnea, it is worthwhile to see a professional. This way, you can work toward quality, uninterrupted sleep.
About the Practice
At GoTo Sleep Center for CPAP Alternatives, we have a team of skilled sleep apnea dentists serving patients in the Scottsdale community. If you are showing signs of sleep apnea and are struggling to achieve quality sleep, we’d be happy to help! For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (623) 254-7433.
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