The Stages of Sleep
by: Cameron Elliott
It?s 11:45 pm. It?s time for a journey. Perhaps you?ve begun this journey several hours earlier. Perhaps you won?t begin for several more hours. No matter. You?ve undertaken this journey an uncountable number of times in your life, and know the path well. But it?s time to take with fresh eyes. To take it stage by stage, and to understand the science behind the mystery.
Are you ready? Let?s begin.
Stage One: This is the beginning of sleep, as you lie in your bed, head on soft pillows and comfortable blankets pulled up around your chin. At this point, you?re easily awakened, by loud noises, flashing lights, or other distractions. Your eyelids flutter, and your heart rate and breathing begins to slow as you begin to drift in and out of sleep.
After about 10 minutes, you might have a hypnic jerk- the sudden feeling of falling that wakes you up, but soon you?ll drift into the second stage.
Stage Two: Light sleep: Eye movements stop, heart rate slows. Your body temperature drops, and brain waves slow down as you officially fall asleep. Most of the night, 45% is spent in this stage.
Think of stage two as good nap; you?re asleep, and won?t be aware of most distractions, but you can still get up easily. You feel refreshed, energized after a good nap. But your body needs more sleep than just naps, and so you then fall into deep sleep.
Stage Three: This is deep sleep. You don?t move at all; no eye movements, no muscle movements, nothing. Your brain produces mostly delta waves: big, slow brain waves, in sharp contrast to the fast, jagged waves your produce when awake. If all goes according to plan, you will soon move to stage four.
Stage Four: Congratulations; you?ve made it to the last stage of sleep. It?s taken over an hour to get here, but you made it. You?re fast, fast asleep. Be careful though, this is the point where some children wet the bed, or have night terrors.
You can be woken up, but you?ll be groggy and slow. If you wake up at this point,
you?ll likely hit the snooze button once or twice, vigorously rub your eyes and drink several cups of coffee.
Now what? If stage four is the last stage, what happens next? Well, stage four is hardly then end of your journey. You?ll backtrack a little, first to stage three, and then to stage two, but then something miraculous happens. After revisiting stage two, you make the jump to the best part of the journey: dreaming.
REM Sleep: This is where dreams take place. Travel the world, the universe. Take flight and soar above the trees. Fall in love again and speak to long lost friends and relatives. Anything is possible.
Breathing increases, your eyes flutter about, giving this stage its name: Rapid Eye Movement. Brain activity increases dramatically, close to the level of when you?re awake. Men develop erections.
Your brain blocks singles to your body, paralyzing your muscles, done to prevent you from acting on your dreams. However, this can have one of two consequences. One is that the muscle paralysis works too well, as is the case with sleep paralysis. Or, the paralysis might not work at all, and you end up sleep walking.
Now, after 8 hours and 5 cycles, it?s 8 am, and time to end your wondrous journey. It has given you a new lease on life; feeling energized and rested. Go now. Go now and seize the day. Make the most out of life, and come home each night feeling satisfied, eager to began another incredible journey.
About The Author
Cameron Elliott, a sleep specialist, is an internet manager for AirSleep.com where he champions the benefits of a good night's sleep both for individual health and also for a more safe and efficient world. For more information on ordering air mattresses, visit http://www.airsleep.com/overview.php/1.
|
Sleep Disorders: Sleep Apnea
Sleep Disorders: Sleep Apnea
by: Cameron Elliott
Sleep disorders is a broad category encompassing of variety of conditions that affect sleep. Some sleep disorders, like insomnia, prevent sleep from occurring at all. Sleep apnea is different. Instead of keeping you awake, sleep apnea severely impairs the sleep you do get.
No matter what you do, you cannot get enough sleep. And night after night, you go to bed hoping that tonight will be different. Tonight you won?t snore. You?ll have a good night?s rest and wake up tomorrow morning feeling refreshed. But it?s always the same. You always feel terrible in the morning. Day after day, you?re utterly exhausted. You catch yourself falling asleep while driving, in meetings, talking to friends.
Sleep apnea is an unpleasant experience. The passageways from your nose and mouth to your lungs partially or even completely close, resulting in heavy breathing and snoring. Air can?t get to your lungs and...
Sleep Disorders: Sleep Apnea
Mattresses > Sleep Disorders: Sleep Apnea
How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
by: Mike Barus
Individuals of all ages choose to invest in a loft bed or bunk bed for their home. This classic childhood sleeper is quickly becoming a fun, inventive way for ?tweens, teens, college students, and young adult hipsters to maximize their space without having to roll out a sleeping bag every night. When it comes time to shop for furniture, look to stores that specialize in bunk beds or loft beds.
First things first, there is a major difference between bunk beds and loft beds. Bunk beds are the most common form of alternative bedding, with an upper bunk stacked above a lower bunk. Some bunk beds stack two same-sized mattresses horizontally, while others stack a twin bed above a full size bed or even a futon that can serve as a larger sleeping or living area. Finally, other bunk beds create a playhouse type environment, with a top bunk running horizontally overtop of a vertically running bottom bunk....
How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
Mattresses > How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
by: Mike Barus
Individuals of all ages choose to invest in a loft bed or bunk bed for their home. This classic childhood sleeper is quickly becoming a fun, inventive way for ?tweens, teens, college students, and young adult hipsters to maximize their space without having to roll out a sleeping bag every night. When it comes time to shop for furniture, look to stores that specialize in bunk beds or loft beds.
First things first, there is a major difference between bunk beds and loft beds. Bunk beds are the most common form of alternative bedding, with an upper bunk stacked above a lower bunk. Some bunk beds stack two same-sized mattresses horizontally, while others stack a twin bed above a full size bed or even a futon that can serve as a larger sleeping or living area. Finally, other bunk beds create a playhouse type environment, with a top bunk running horizontally overtop of a vertically running bottom bunk....
How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
Mattresses > How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Bed)
Dog Training ? Early Training Is Essential
Dog Training ? Early Training Is Essential
by: Declan Tobin
Dogs are a fantastic edition to any family but like all youngsters they need training. If you do not train your puppy now it will take a serious amount of help from a training school to get him to be obedient later on. Puppies just like babies learn mostly in their early years and unfortunately will also pick up the bad habits also. Early attention will save you heartache later on and give you more quality...
Mattresses The Stages of Sleep
Mattresses > Dog Training ? Early Training Is Essential
Packing Tips
Packing Tips
by: Rachel Deutsch
Packing is an art form in itself. Experienced travelers have perfected this art over the years so they cen carry just a small bag and still have all that they need on vacation. Here are ten tips to help you pack for your next vacation.
1. Prepare a packing list in advance. One packing list for each traveler and a list of common things.
Each list should be separated to a list of things you are going to check in, and...
Mattresses
Mattresses > Packing Tips
Buy Flowers For Hillary Duff... Or Your Favorite Teen
Buy Flowers For Hillary Duff... Or Your Favorite Teen
by: Wesley Berry
She loves clothes, talking on the phone, boys, teen stars like Hillary Duff, and a great pair of vintage jeans, but will your teen girl love a gift of flowers? Absolutely! In a recent survey, flowers proved to be among the most favored gifts men and women give and receive. And, since your teen is a young woman in training, there's no doubt that she will appreciate beautiful flowers, too-especially...
Mattresses The Stages of Sleep
Mattresses > Buy Flowers For Hillary Duff... Or Your Favorite Teen
Mattresses shoes The Stages of Sleep
Tips for Organizing your Scrapbook Photos
Tips for Organizing your Scrapbook Photos
by: Lisa Fleming
As winter turns to spring each year, many of us turn our thoughts to spring cleaning. Our lists of projects typically include mundane tasks such as sweeping the garage, cleaning the gutters and washing the windows. So why not add a little pizzazz to your spring cleaning this year by tackling a fun project like organizing your scrapbook photos? ?Fun?? you say. Well yes, organizing your photos can be...
Mattresses Tips for Organizing your Scrapbook Photos The Stages of Sleep spring break
Mattresses > Tips for Organizing your Scrapbook Photos
Tips To Become a Master DVD Ripper
Tips To Become a Master DVD Ripper
by: Ted Peterson
How difficult is to perform a DVD ripping? What should you look for and what do you need in order to do a successful job? Here are some tips that can be useful.
If you are looking to become a master dvd ripper then you will have to learn the basics of the subject. Ripping a dvd refers to converting the audio or video data from a dvd format to a digital copy on your hard disk. In this article you will learn...
Tips To Become a Master DVD Ripper Mattresses
Mattresses > Tips To Become a Master DVD Ripper