When you go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning, you likely don’t think too much about the time in between. Sometimes, you have dreams and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you feel well rested and sometimes you feel like you could have used another hour or two. However, if you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, you might not be reaching all of the stages of sleep, and this can be harmful to your health. Continue reading to learn more about the stages of sleep and why they are so important.
Stage 1 – Light Sleep
When you first drift off to sleep, your eye movement starts to 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 and ten minutes. It can be considered a transition period between wakefulness and sleep. If someone wakes up, they might not even realize that they had fallen asleep.
Stage 2 – Fairly Light Sleep
During this time, you become less aware of your surroundings, your body temperature drops, and your breathing and heart rate become more regular. Your brain produces bursts of rapid, rhythmic brainwave activity known as “sleep spindles.” The American Sleep Foundation reports that people should spend approximately 50% of their sleep in this stage.
Stage 3 – Deep Sleep
This stage causes your muscles to relax. Your blood pressure and breathing rate drop as well. This is when you are sleeping the deepest. You are less responsive to noise and activity around you. Deep, slow brain waves known as “delta waves” emerge here. This is your body’s chance to repair any muscles and tissues that were damaged during the day. This is also crucial to growth and development in children and teenagers.
Stage 4 – REM Sleep
REM is an abbreviation for “rapid eye movement.” During this stage, your brain becomes more active, your body relaxes, and your eyes move more rapidly – hence the name. This is the time of night when you are more 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, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that keeps you up at night, you won’t be spending as much time in stages 3 and 4 of the sleep cycle. Most of the sleep you have will take place in stages one and two. Your physical and mental health will suffer as a result. For instance, lacking sleep results in weaker immunity, higher blood pressure, memory issues, mood changes, and more. These issues will only get worse as time goes on.
If you feel tired during the day or are experiencing other signs of sleep apnea, it is worth seeing a sleep dentist for treatment. This way, you can work toward quality, uninterrupted sleep.
About the Author
Dr. Mitch Conditt earned his dental doctorate from Baylor College of Dentistry. Since then, he has pursued advanced training in sleep apnea treatment and TMJ treatment. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. He is also a proud member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines, Texas Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. To learn more about obstructive sleep apnea or to schedule an appointment at his office in Fort Worth, visit his website or call (817) 527-8500.