A Brief Introduction to the 4 Stages of Sleep

January 20, 2022
Man in bed, going through stages of sleep in Vero Beach

Every time you doze off, your body embarks on a journey through the four stages of sleep in Vero Beach, each of which plays an important role in supporting your overall health. What happens during each part of your sleep cycle, and why is uninterrupted sleep so important? Let’s talk about the answers to those important questions.

Stages 1 and 2: Light Sleep

As soon as you fall asleep, you enter stage 1 sleep. Your breathing, heartbeat, and eye movements all slow down. However, you are still somewhat alert. If any noise occurs near you, you are likely to hear it and respond. It’s possible you won’t even realize that you had fallen asleep in the first place.

After approximately 5 – 10 minutes in the first stage of sleep, you enter stage 2. At this point, you become even less aware of what is happening around you, your body temperature slightly decreases, and your eye movements stop. Your brain begins to produce a specific type of wave called sleep spindles. Most people spend about half of their total sleep time in stage 2.

Stages 3 and 4: Deep Sleep

The third stage of sleep is sometimes called “deep sleep.” It becomes quite difficult to awaken you at this point. It is during this stage that your body works on repairing tissues that were damaged throughout the day, and your brain begins to consolidate new memories. You also have increased cytokine levels. Cytokines, a specific type of protein, are vital in supporting your immune system. For children and teenagers, stage 3 sleep is vital for their overall growth.

When you transition into stage 4, your eyes will begin to move quite quickly (stage 4 sleep is also known as rapid eye movement — REM — sleep). Your heartrate becomes elevated, your blood pressure increases, and your breathing becomes shallower. Your brain keeps working to process new memories. Most dreams occur during REM sleep.

Why Is Uninterrupted Sleep So Important?

The average person takes about 1 – 2 hours to go through all the stages of sleep. Each time the cycle repeats, the amount of time spent in each stage changes. To fully benefit from each stage, your sleep should be uninterrupted. Unfortunately, disorders like sleep apnea disrupt the sleep cycle and may prevent you from spending enough time in stages 3 and 4. As a result, your memory, emotional health, and other aspects of your overall wellness may suffer.

If you seldom feel rested despite spending 7 – 8 hours in bed, it is possible that you need sleep apnea treatment in Vero Beach. Treatment can prevent disruptions to your sleep cycle and help you benefit from every moment of shuteye.

Meet the Sleep Expert

As a double-board certified dental sleep medicine expert, Dr. Kenneth Mogell has over a decade of experience in providing effective sleep apnea therapy. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, he would be happy to help you arrange for appropriate testing and treatment. To learn more about how he may be able to serve you, contact our Vero Beach office at 772-882-6800.