Sleep Cycles

When we fall asleep, there are actually multiple stages to our sleep. There are essentially 5 different stages. The deep sleep stages and REM sleep stages are the most important stages of the sleep cycle. A great way to increase the longevity of these stages is to get a better sleep surface. An adjustable bed and memory foam mattress may suit you perfectly. This will allow you to choose the position you are most relaxed in as well as having a mattress that contours to your own body to relieve pressure points.

Stage 1
Stage 1 is the stage of drowsiness, where a person has just fallen asleep. You can be woken up from this stage very easily. This stage of sleep lasts approximately 10 minutes before advancing to stage 2 of the sleep cycle.

Stage 2
Stage 2 is a period of light sleep. During this stage your muscles will tone and relax repeatedly. The heart rate slows down and body temperature will begin to decrease.

Stage 3 and 4: Deep Sleep
Stage 3 is the beginning of deep sleep, and stage 4 is a more intense stage of the deep sleep phase. The deep sleep stages are when the body can revitalize itself. It is in this state that the blood flow supplied to the brain decreases and flows towards the muscles instead, which restores physical energy.

Stage 4: REM Sleep
REM sleep is when we dream. It is a stage of repairing the mind and can lengthen our long term memories. Infants are in the REM stage of sleep about 50% of their sleep cycle while adults are in this stage about 20% of their sleep cycle.

A typical night's sleep will not just go in this order of the stages, but will repeat itself. A normal sleep cycle will go something like this... 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, REM, 3, 4, and repeat itself. The length of time that these cycles last change change as time passes. Deep sleep is longer during the beginning cycles while the REM stages increase closer to when you wake up and deep sleep decreases.

Remember, the more deep and REM sleep you get, the more refreshed you will feel once you wake up, and you will feel better throughout the day. Try using a better sleep surface such as apremium adjustable bed with a memory foam mattress to help increase these stages of sleep.