10/6/2023 0 Comments Deep vs light vs rem sleepThe researchers found sleepers’ reactions were linked to brain waves called “sleep spindles.” Light sleepers lacking adequate REM sleep aren’t only fatigued, but also at risk of developing chronic health issues including dementia, Type 2 diabetes, depression, and migraines.Ī small 2010 study wanted to see how sleepers respond to noise and used an EEG test to measure their brain waves. Since light sleepers don’t reach REM sleep as often or for as long compared to heavy sleepers, they are not receiving the same benefits. REM sleep improves both cognitive and physical functions of the body, including memory, mood, the immune system, and weight. Their brain activity is similar to when a person is awake and as a result, the most vivid dreams occur during REM. The average adult spends about 25 percent of their sleep in the REM stage.ĭuring this stage, the eyes begin to move rapidly under closed eyelids, and blood pressure rises. The first cycle of REM lasts about 10 minutes but gradually gets longer-almost an hour-by the final sleep cycle of the evening. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the final sleep stage, usually beginning 90 minutes after a person falls asleep. The body is relaxed and it’s difficult to awaken somebody during this healing stage. When in slow-wave sleep, the body restores itself both physically and mentally, which is critical for memory processing, muscle recovery, and hormonal balance. These stages are the final and deepest non-REM sleep stages, lasting approximately 30 minutes per sleep cycle. Stages 3 and 4 are restorative sleep stages and also known as slow-wave or delta sleep. Typically, stage 2 sleep lasts around 20 minutes per cycle, though many people, particularly light sleepers, spend most of their sleep in this state. Sleepers can still wake easily during stage 2. It’s still light sleep, but it continually deepens as the muscles relax, body temperature lowers, and heart rate and breathing slow. Stage 2 is the second non-REM sleep stage. Sleepers can easily awaken during this short period. A person’s heart rate and breathing begin to slow and their eyes and muscles relax. It’s a very light and quick stage, lasting only a few minutes. Stage 1 sleep is characterized as the transitional, non-REM sleep stage between being awake and falling asleep. Let’s take a look at the five sleep stages. In one night, you complete roughly four to five sleep cycles. All stages, while serving different purposes, are vital to well-rounded, revitalizing sleep. The first four stages are non-REM sleep and the fifth is REM sleep. These segments are separated into five stages, and altogether, make up one sleep cycle. There are two main segments to sleep, known as non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Generally, young people and children spend most of their sleep in deep and heavier sleep stages as their bodies are still developing. Heavy sleepers spend more time in the deep sleep stages than light sleepers because their sleep is uninterrupted. They fall asleep effortlessly and can be difficult to awaken, often getting good quality and lengthy sleep. What Is a Heavy Sleeper?Ī heavy sleeper doesn’t wake up during the night despite environmental disturbances such as sounds, light, smell, or movement. Also, older adults are most commonly light sleepers, potentially due to heightened sensitivity to stimuli or physical and mental health conditions. Light sleeping may be caused by undiagnosed sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia, causing irregularities in a person’s sleep pattern. Light sleepers rarely enter deeper sleep stages, and spend the most time in stage 1-when the body is between awake and asleep-because their bodies and brains never completely relax. Even the slightest smells, sounds, light, and movement are disruptive for light sleepers. What Is a Light Sleeper?Ī light sleeper wakes up easily and is sensitive to the smallest of changes in their environment. We discuss what differentiates light and heavy sleepers, and the steps light sleepers should take to improve their sleep quality and quantity. While heavy sleepers might have an easier time getting to sleep, light sleepers still need adequate sleep because it contributes to their physical and cognitive functioning, as well as their overall mental health. Some theorize lifestyle, genetics, stress, brain wave activity, and undiagnosed sleep disorders all affect whether or not someone is a light or heavy sleeper. There’s little research to explain why some people are light sleepers, while others can sleep through anything.
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