Are You Getting Enough Regular Deep Sleep?


by Andy Maingam - Date: 2007-01-23 - Word Count: 596 Share This!

There's an awful lot of talk these days about whether folks are getting enough deep regular sleep or not, but what's all this fuss about the importance of sound sleep anyway? Well, to start with it rejuvenates us and recharges the human batteries ready for the day ahead. But apart from the restful benefits of sleeping, it is now acknowledged that getting a good night's kip plays a fundamental role in our general health and wellbeing.

But just what do the experts consider a 'good' night's sleep? Well, how many of us have to drag ourselves out of the bed at first light? If you've had 'quality' sleep you should wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go, not more tired than before you went to bed the night before. If this is you, then you are probably not getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis.

Let's take a look at the sleep patterns which actually come in 5 stages. I'll not go into the medical facts here but just skim over the stages so that you have a basic understanding of the natural patterns of sleep. The five stages of sleep 1, 2, 3, 4 and REM (rapid eye movement) are as follows:

Stage 1 This is when we become tired and experience drowsiness. It's often difficult to keep our eyes open and we may drift in and out of light sleep and can be easily woken up. Some folks also experience muscle contractions during this stage and maybe even a sense of falling.

Stage 2 is a period of light sleep during which the body goes through periods of muscle tone mixed with periods of muscle relaxation. Also during this time the heart rate slows down, and body temperature decreases. Stage 2 is when the body prepares to enter deep sleep mode.

Stages 3 and 4 These are the deep sleep stages, with Stage 4 being more intense than Stage 3. Deep sleep is the most difficult time to wake someone. During deep sleep there is neither movement from the eyes nor any muscle activity.

In the REM (rapid eye movement) period our breathing becomes considerably more rapid, irregular and shallow. It's during this time that the eyes jerk rapidly and the limb muscles become temporarily paralyzed. Also during the REM period the heart rate increases, and the blood pressure rises.

It is during REM when most dreams occur. On average, most people experience three to five intervals of REM sleep each night.

The above 5 stages of sleep are natural and occur with most normal sleepers. Those of us that have trouble sleeping have some disruption in the 5 stages of sleep and some may not enter the deep sleep stages 3 & 4.

Research is proving that getting quality sleep is good for us. In fact it's very good for us. There's also more evidence to suggest that beds, bedding, and bedroom decoration is can drastically improve our overall quality of sound sleep.

The reason why some folks do not sleep well are many, but sleeping pills should really only be seen as a temporary fix to a much bigger problem. Lack of deep sleep can be mental, physical, or both, but either way it's debilitating for the sufferer.

Laying on the right kind of mattress, using the correct pillows, and being covered with the appropriate duvet, bed quilts, or blankets can and does, provide a much better sleep for countless people, and if you've tried all else and failed, you may want to take a look at your beds and bedding in an attempt to get your sleep stages back on track.


Related Tags: bedding, dreams, beds, drowsiness, sleep patterns, deep sleep mode, bedroom decoration

Learn more on the benefits of quality bedding including the modern Feather Bed the Feather Pillow and Cozy Down Comforters at Bed Bedding dot com

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