Sleep Well and Sweet Dreams
There’s a lot to be said for a good night’s rest. For some, it’s about the thread count in their sheets, the mattress firmness and the thickness of their pillow. But what adds up for sound rest is sleep’s impact on our brain and overall body functions.
Benefits of getting good sleep
Sleep has been proven to improve memory recall, regulate metabolism and reduce mental fatigue. When we sleep, the brain reorganizes, recharges itself, and removes toxic waste byproducts accumulated throughout the day. Toxic waste products in the brain are the protein beta-amyloid, the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Phases of sleep
Each phase of the sleep cycle restores and rejuvenates the brain. When sleep is deprived, toxins can build up, and the effects will become apparent in cogitative abilities, behavior and judgment.
Sleep is divided into two major phases, and each phase is divided into stages. The first phase is non-rapid eye movement (NREM), which is the phase we’re in when we first doze off. In the first stage of NREM, stage N1 sleep, we transition from wake into a drowsy state that almost feels like we’re still awake. Most people spend the majority of their sleep in the next phase, stage N2. During that stage, our muscles relax, our heart rate slows and our temperature drops – but now the brain also works on saving memories and recharging overall energy. The last stage of NREM sleep is N3, also called deep sleep, which, if it gets interrupted and we’re woken, there are a few minutes of disorientation. NREM is the phase that helps the brain with learning and memory and is the more restorative and restful phase of sleep.
The second phase is rapid eye movement (REM), which gets its name because eyes move rapidly behind closed lids. During this stage, the system works so hard that brain waves are nearly as active as when awake; our heartbeat and breathing become rapid and irregular, muscles are paralyzed, and the core body temperature drops. Most dreaming occurs during REM. The most essential job in REM sleep is solidifying memory, especially by making the connections that let us jump from a problem to a solution. REM also helps our brain erase memories it doesn’t need to build more memory storage.
When things are working right, our brains will pass through stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, and REM step by step. This cycle typically repeats itself four to five times per night.
Do you find yourself nodding off?
Many sleep through the night only to wake up feeling unrefreshed or nodding off during the day. Being sleepy when bored or sitting still is your brain telling you that it needs more repair and recharge, just like being hungry means your body needs food. The most common cause of sleepiness is simply not getting enough sleep, and most people don’t realize how dangerous that can be. When the body doesn’t get enough sleep, everything from the immune system to emotions to metabolism gets out of balance.
Tiredness, though, can come from a wide variety of sleep problems. Insomnia, problems getting to or staying asleep, is one of the most common sleep disorders and can often be treated effectively with or without medications. Snoring can bother everyone around the sleeper, but it means the throat is narrowing during sleep. If the throat narrows enough, the body will interrupt sleep to get a good breath, which is the core problem in sleep apnea. It’s important to remember that while others may gasp or even stop breathing in their sleep, the narrowing doesn’t have to be that bad for sleep apnea to cause health and energy problems.
The Center for Sleep Disorders at Firelands Regional Medical Center can assess for sleep disorders and more, in adults and children. Our board-certified sleep specialists care for conditions from narcolepsy to restless legs syndrome to abnormal dreaming to exploding head syndrome (don’t worry – it’s not as messy as it sounds!) We offer a full spectrum of care, from initial evaluation and sleep study through diagnosis and long-term management.
To schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist at our accredited sleep facility, call 419-557-7840. A physician referral is required for a sleep study.
