How Do You Sleep?

How do you sleep? Sleep is an important part of our lives. Sleep occupies about one-third of our time, although the percentage reduces as we age.

Brain wave research has made important discoveries about the brain and different levels of sleep. Brain waves are the electrical waves produced by brain cells, and can be measured in terms of their frequency (how many waves per second) and their amplitude (how tall or short the waves are). Brain waves are measured by an EEG scan.

Stages of sleep

Sleep progresses through a number of stages in which brain waves behave differently. Problems can result if the brain doesn’t move through the normal cycles of stages.

Stage 1 – alpha-type waves are related to a relaxed, drowsy state. There is slow eye rolling and a reduction in the heart rate, muscle tension and body temperature.

Stage 2 – brain waves become slower and larger, with short bursts of high-frequency waves.

Stage 3 – a few long, slow delta waves intersperse with spindly waves as sleep gets deeper.

Stage 4 – Most waves are long and slow delta waves – a deep stage of sleep.

Stage 5 – rapid eye movements (REM) can be seen and brain waves are like stage one waves – high frequency, low amplitude. It is harder to wake someone from REM  sleep than from any of the other stages.

After a sleeper has gone through the first four stages of progressively deeper sleep, he or she reverses back through the stages to Stage 2 after which comes a period of Stage 5 REM sleep. After REM sleep, the sleeper starts another sleep cycle working through Stages 2, 3 and 4, back up again and another period of REM sleep. One complete sleep cycle takes about 90 minutes. Most people complete about five full cycles per night. With each cycle, the amount of time spent in the REM stage gets longer.

REM sleep is an interesting stage of sleep because it is associated with dreaming.

If you have trouble falling asleep, you may need to learn how to fall asleep again. Natural sleep remedies may be helpful too.

Sleep deprivation

Are you experiencing the effects of sleep deprivation and don't even know it? Sleep deprivation certainly has an effect, and teen sleep deprivation has been a topic of recent interest.

Interesting Sleep Information

Is there a connection between warm feet and sleep. Is it just an old wives' tale...perhaps not.

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