Posted on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 at 3:21 am
Deep sleep is the one stage of rest that people need to wake up in the morning feeling well-rested and refreshed. It’s one of the many stages of sleep that we unconsciously experience each night. It is during deep sleep that our neocortical neurons can finally get some rest, allowing them to recharge for the next day of brain activity. Growth hormones, which are necessary for our body’s healthy development, are also released during this period of sleep.
There are two types of sleep stages: REM and non-REM sleep. REM is best-known as the stage of sleep where we dream. Your body cycles through periods of REM sleep and non-REM sleep throughout the night, with each period lasting about an hour and a half.
Within each period of sleep, there are stages of sleep, in which your body’s functions change slightly to prepare your heart rate and brain activity for either deeper sleep or to wake up.
Right after you fall asleep, you enter a stage of non-REM rest, in which your body transitions from being awake to falling asleep. It is during this initial stage that your heart rate, brain activity, and eye movements begin to slow down.
Stage two of non-REM sleep is crucial for us to feel well-rested, and we spend about half of each night in this stage. Here, our body temperature falls, our eyes stop moving, and our brain waves only experience slight bursts of activity. Stages three and four of non-REM sleep are considered “deep sleep” by experts, or “slow-wave sleep.” During these two stages of deep sleep, our heart rate and brain activity slow down the most, and even sudden and loud noises probably will not wake us up.
Fall asleep faster – and stay asleep longer – by establishing a nighttime routine free of blue light and electronics. Begin your routine at least half an hour before planning on going to sleep, and try to make it as frequent as possible.
Contact the OSA Team at Silent Night Therapy
If you’re having trouble falling into a deep sleep and, as a result, wake up feeling groggy, the sleep experts at Silent Night Therapy are ready to help. You may be suffering from sleep apnea or other issues, and we can help address them. We believe everyone deserves a full night’s rest, so call us at (631) 983-2463 today.