A Brief Introduction to the 4 Stages of Sleep

Every time you fall asleep, you embark on a journey through four distinct stages of sleep. Each of them plays an important role in your overall health. What exactly happens during these stages, and why is it so important that you are able to get through all of them without interruption? How might sleep apnea affect your ability to benefit from your entire sleep cycle? This blog post provides some fascinating information.

Stages 1 and 2: Light Sleep

Immediately after you fall asleep, you enter the first stage of sleep. Your heartbeat, eye movements, and breathing all slow down. However, you maintain a level of alertness. If you hear a loud noise or someone turns on a light, you may easily be awakened. You might not even realize that you had fallen asleep to begin with.

After 5 – 10 minutes in stage 1 sleep, you transition to stage 2. At this point, you become less aware of your surroundings, your body temperature takes a slight dip, and your eyes stop moving. Your brain starts producing a special wave known as sleep spindles. It is common for people to spend about half of their total sleep time in stage 2.

Stages 3 and 4: Deep Sleep

Stage 3 of the sleep cycle may also be referred to as “deep sleep.” You are difficult to awaken, and your body works on repairing tissues that incurred damage during the day. Your brain also starts to consolidate new memories. Additionally, your cytokine levels increase. Cytokines are a special type of protein that supports your immune system.

When you reach stage 4 sleep, your eyes start to move quickly, which is why this stage is also known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Your heartrate picks up, your blood pressure increases, and your breaths become shallower. Your brain continues to work on processing new memories. Most dreams happen during REM sleep.

How Sleep Apnea Affects the Sleep Cycle

On average, it takes about 1 – 2 hours to go through the complete sleep cycle. Each time the cycle restarts, you spend a different amount of time in each stage of sleep. To benefit fully from your sleep cycle, you should be able to enjoy uninterrupted sleep.

Sadly, sleep apnea can seriously disrupt your sleep cycle. It causes you to temporarily stop breathing multiple times during the night. Each time you resume breathing, you go through “microarousals,” which can adversely affect how much time you are able to spend in the deeper stages of sleep. As a result, you may notice negative effects on your memory, your emotional health, and your overall well-being.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, seeking appropriate treatment may be the key to unlocking the full benefits of each stage of your sleep cycle.

Top-Quality Sleep Apnea Treatment in Boca Raton

As a double-board certified dental sleep medicine expert, Dr. Kenneth Mogell has more than a decade of experience in providing effective oral appliance therapy for patients with sleep apnea. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, he and our team would be happy to help you arrange for appropriate testing and treatment. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact our Boca Raton office at 561-353-5252.