{"id":687,"date":"2021-04-22T13:02:04","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T13:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bghdental.com\/blog\/?p=687"},"modified":"2022-08-09T22:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T22:01:10","slug":"important-stages-of-sleep-in-greenfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bghdental.com\/blog\/important-stages-of-sleep-in-greenfield\/","title":{"rendered":"The Stages of Sleep and Why You Can\u2019t Afford to Miss Them"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"man<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Experts say that 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night is ideal, but more than a third of US adults get less than that. Sleep apnea is one of the more common reasons for disrupted sleep, as the cessations in breathing repeatedly force you to wake up for air \u2013 and that means you\u2019re missing out on the full benefits of a good night\u2019s rest. In this post, you\u2019ll learn more about the 4 stages of sleep in Greenfield and why they\u2019re so essential if you want to wake up the next morning feeling refreshed and energized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

First and Second Stages: Light Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You always start at stage 1 of the sleep cycle no matter how tired you are. Your eye movements will start to slow down, but your body will still be somewhat alert; it\u2019s very easy for outside stimuli to wake you up at this point. You\u2019ll only remain in this stage for a few minutes before moving on to stage 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once stage 2 begins, your brain will start producing sleep spindles, which are a special kind of brainwave. They are believed to help mediate a variety of sleep-related functions, such as consolidating memory; they might also help protect the body from early awakenings. Stage 2 is one of the longest stages, taking up nearly half the cycle and lasting anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third and Fourth Stages: Deep and REM Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stage 3 is also called deep sleep. It\u2019s much harder to wake you up once you\u2019ve reached this point. During deep sleep, the body will start repairing damaged muscles and tissues. Cytokines will be produced to keep the immune system functioning properly and restore the energy level of cells. This stage is especially important for children and teenagers who are still growing and developing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fourth and final stage is known as REM sleep. As you likely know, REM stands for \u201crapid-eye movement\u201d in reference to how the eyes start to make quick, jerky movements in every direction. As your heart rate and blood pressure start to rise, your brain will be consolidating new information learned during the day so that it\u2019s committed to long-term memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are These Stages Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your body needs to go through the sleep cycle multiple times every night. However, if you don\u2019t get enough sleep, or if you have a disorder such as sleep apnea that keeps interrupting your rest, then you won\u2019t spend enough time in stages 3 and 4. Your overall health will suffer, and you\u2019ll feel drowsy and irritable during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much rest are you getting every night? Make sure you\u2019re going to bed early enough to get at least 7 hours of sleep. If you think sleep apnea is waking you up during the night, see a sleep professional as soon as possible. Finishing the sleep cycle is crucial if you want to operate at your best during the day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

BGH Dental offers many different services to help our patients smile. But it\u2019s not just the teeth we take care of; we also perform sleep apnea therapy<\/a> to help anyone who is unable to get enough sleep at night due to their breathing continually being interrupted. If you have concerns about the quality of your rest and would like to schedule a sleep apnea consultation, visit our website<\/a> or call (413) 772-0842.<\/p>\n\r\n