Five Stages of Sleep

The Five Stages of Sleep

We generally think sleep is a simple process even when we are fully aware of the perils of lack of sleep.

Typical sleep passes through these five stages. EEG hints different levels of brain activity during the different stages of sleep.

• Stages 1 through 4. The first four stages of sleep shows gradual decline of brain waves, suggesting lesser brain activity. As we reach the fourth stage, our brain activity is almost nil.

On the fifth stage the condition reverses, with fast paced brain activities.

• Stage five –Also known as REM Stage, REM sleep, characterized by Rapid Eye Movements and high levels of brain activities. Brain is highly active during this stage.

We pass through these five stages of sleep five to six times (5-6 cycles of sleep stages) in a typical 6 hour sleep.

It is not OK to wake one up when he or she is in third, fourth or REM stage of sleep.

Sleep Apnea: Kill the Killer Before it Kills You

Sleep apnea, the silent killer attacks when we are too vulnerable at sleep. Death at Sleep rarely gets our attention and rarely will go enquiring the reasons.

Sleep Apnea causes temporary cessation of breathing during sleep. The only guard we unconsciously take is waking up. A sleep apnea person can wake up as much as hundred times in a 6-8 hour sleep. We almost never remember 99 of such waking instances.

Completion of at least a single sleep cycle thus becomes impossible. The condition is similar to total lack of sleep. This is the reason why apnea people fall asleep in odd situations, like behind the wheels or in the office.

Full time dizziness and quick falling to sleep at odd hours can be symptoms of sleep apnea. Loud snoring during sleep can be another possible symptom of sleep apnea. Identification of sleep apnea by a full night sleep study under the aegis of a qualified medical practitioner is necessary to study the seriousness of the condition.

Obese men above 40 have risks of sleep apnea, but even then no one, even toddlers are not free from this unfortunate condition.

According to the severity of the condition, specific sleep apnea treatments may become necessary. There are also certain medicines claiming to cure sleep apnea effectively, but it is premature to start believing their claims.

MyWestTexas.com - Lifestyle & Features - 01/29/2006 - Eliminating sleep apnea, losing weight should help reduce snoring

Weightlose can have this advantage too. You get good sleep.

I have been asking my friends to reduce weight, but of no avail

Eliminating sleep apnea, losing weight should help reduce snoring: "Lose 10 percent of your body weight to help stop snoring. Overweight people tend to have bulky neck tissue, which increases the risk of snoring."