While sleep offers essential rest for your mind and body, the truth is that it’s actually a very active process! There’s more to it than just recharging in your bed for seven to nine hours. In fact, there are four distinct stages, and if you have sleep apnea or chronically snore, you might be tired all the time because you’re missing out on one or more of them.
Stage 1: The Light Sleep Lounge
Every journey has a first step, and Stage 1 is commonly referred to as “falling asleep” or “drifting off.” It’s the few minutes your body needs to go from being awake to being out like a light.
Stage 2: The Sleep Switchboard
Your body temperature drops, muscles relax, and your heart and breathing noticeably slow down. This deeper level ensures you’re not easily woken up by outside stimuli so you’re undisturbed, and generally, this is the longest sleep phase.
Stage 3: Into the Deep
Welcome to restorative sleep, where your body goes into overdrive when it comes to recovery, growth, and repair. Whether you’re dealing with an injury or sickness, this is the point where your body puts all its effort into making you feel better. This is a big reason why you might feel so sleepy when you’re sick—it’s just your body’s natural way of guiding you toward an effective solution.
Step 4: The REM Realm
Dreams tend to pop up during this stage, and the only muscles that are still “online” are the ones that allow you to breathe and move your eyes. In fact, your eyes tend to quickly dart around at this point, which is why this stage is also called “Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep.”
Researchers believe that this is when the brain organizes itself, which is essential for things like memory, learning, and creativity. If you ever have a problem and “magically” wake up with a solution the next day, you can thank REM sleep!
How This Relates to Sleep Apnea
For people with sleep apnea, their rest is constantly being interrupted when their breathing stops and starts. As a result, they are never able to reach the deeper stages of sleep, contributing to the physical and mental symptoms that stem from sleep deprivation.
It can’t be overstated how important consistent sleep is for your overall health, so if you snore or suspect you have sleep apnea, it’s time to reach out to a professional and get dedicated treatment. Imagine just how much better you’ll feel and think when you’re finally getting a full night’s rest!
About the Practice
Drs. Candida Castillo and Keisi Ikonomi are proud to provide holistic dental services to the North Providence community. Bio Dental offers a range of treatments, including laser-based therapy for sleep apnea/snoring. If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), snore every night, or are simply concerned about the quality of your nightly rest, our team can perform a screening and advise you on your next steps.
Contact our office today at 401-232-7777 or click here to schedule an appointment.