Every night when your brain powers down and your body goes to sleep, there are actually quite a few different processes going on despite your idleness. Primarily, your brain must cycle through different stages of sleep, in order for you to receive all of the benefits that a night of rest has to offer. However, conditions such as sleep apnea don’t always make this easy and can prove detrimental to your well-being if left unchecked. Here’s a brief overview of the different stages of sleep and why each one is important for your body’s wellness.
A Closer Look at the Stages of Sleep
What happens to the brain during sleep can generally be categorized into four different stages, each of which has a unique function and role in maintaining the brain’s overall cognitive capabilities. The first three stages of sleep are considered non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, also called “quiet sleep.” During the first stage, your eye movements gradually become slower, though your body is still alert and might respond to physical stimuli.
Eventually, you’ll enter the next stage of sleep, and your brain will begin to produce special brainwaves called sleep spindles, which help to prevent you from being stirred. Your body temperature will also slightly drop, as will your heart rate. Your muscles will also relax as you enter the third stage of non-REM sleep; this is the stage where your body’s cells begin to self-repair.
However, once you reach the final stage of sleep, referred to as REM sleep, it’s more difficult for you to be stirred. During REM sleep, your brain’s activity most closely resembles its activity during waking hours—and often, you begin dreaming as your body uses this time to cement information to memory and organize emotional processes.
The Importance of Uninterrupted Sleep
Needless to say, the human body benefits greatly from getting an adequate amount of sleep; however, this isn’t always an easy task, especially if sleep apnea is in the picture. This condition is notorious for jeopardizing the rest of millions of patients on a nightly basis, and without treatment, it can lead to some serious health consequences, of which hypertension, cardiovascular issues, and diabetes top the list. It involves an obstruction in the airway that prevents the sufficient flow of oxygen during sleep, which causes patients to wake up frequently and miss out on valuable rest. This means your brain is kicked out of its sleep cycle and doesn’t spend the time it needs in the later stages.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be treated with professional intervention—meaning that if you suffer from the condition, you don’t have to needlessly endure not getting enough rest each night!
About the Practice
The team at Star Sleep & Wellness in Denton has proudly served patients in Denton and the surrounding DFW metroplex for several years, and they look forward to assisting you next! They’re excited to offer a wide range of services aimed at treating sleep apnea and restoring high-quality rest for those who need it. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, feel free to contact them online or by phone for further information. Telephone: (469) 772-6721.