Introduction To Sweet Sleep
Before we go to the battle and fight sleep deprivation, let me first
prepare you and equip you with knowledge on what sleep and sleep deprivation really is.
Importance of Sleep
Having sleep is very important to us. It is very essential because sleep gives us the required energy to live another
stressful day. It also gives us the time to rest, relax, and forget our worries and anxieties. Sleep also helps maintain our body healthy and
keeps our memory sharp. It is as important as to eating and drinking so we should give extreme attention to our sleeping habits. Without
sleep, our body will not function well.
Unfortunately, other people do not get enough sleep. They experience lack of sleep due to too much work; while others
undergo sleep disorders that forbid them from getting enough sleep.
The Sleep Process
As we fall asleep, we enter the transition sleep called Stage 1 and begin our first sleep cycle. Within a few minutes we
go into our Stage 2 sleep. Stage 2 sleep is where the other three stages come from. Within 15-20 minutes we have gradually evolved into Stage
3 then Stage 4 sleep. Stages 2, 3, 4 are called delta sleep or NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. Our respiration and heart beat slowdown
during these 4 stages. Our body also becomes immobile. After almost half an hour of NREM sleep, our brain goes loco and we go back to stage 2
sleep and then go to REM (rapid eye movement) sleep where our brain becomes very active and our respiration and heart rate increases again.
This is the stage where our dreams occur. Our eyes also move in all directions under our eyelids. The REM sleep will happen for only about
10-20 minutes and then goes back to stage 2 again. This marks the end of the first sleep cycle and then starts all over again. As we start
all over again we gradually loose our time for NREM sleep and replace it with longer alternating stage 2 and REM sleep and by the final sleep
cycle, we will spend about half our time in stage 2 sleep and half in REM sleep. Sleep normally ends after six cycles.
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