


This is where this stage gets its name and is sometimes referred to as delta sleep. Brain activity during this stage has an identifiable pattern of short waves that are known as delta waves. Your breathing and heart rate reach their lowest levels in the slow-wave sleep stage. This is the most important stage of sleep in order to feel refreshed in the morning. This stage of sleep is known as deep sleep.

About half of your sleep time is at this stage. This stage of sleep can last for 10 to 25 minutes during the first sleep cycle, however each N2 stage gets longer throughout the night. 3 These bursts of activity are important because they help you to not be woken up by external stimuli. While your body is slowing down, your brain is still active with short bursts of activity. Your body temperature drops, your heartbeat and breathing slows down. During this stage, you are in a more subdued state. This stage typically lasts for about 20 minutes, however it can last longer. This is the second stage of sleep after you leave N1. You spend the least amount of time in this stage during sleep. It’s easy to wake up someone in this stage of sleep, however they can move quickly into stage 2 if they aren’t disturbed.

Stage 1 typically lasts from five to 10 minutes once you are asleep. Your muscles also begin to relax and may twitch, however your body isn’t fully relaxed yet. It is characterized by a slowed heartbeat, slowed breathing, eye movements, and brain activity. This stage of sleep is the transition from being awake to being asleep. Amy Myers June 3rd, 2021 Brain Health: The Four Stages of Sleep – Infographic – Amy Myers MD® Stage 1: NREM (N1) First, let’s discuss the four stages of sleep and how they benefit your brain health.īrain Health: The Four Stages of Sleep – Infographic – Amy Myers MD® Dr. It can especially impact your brain health – memory, learning and creativity can all be affected.ĭon’t worry! I am about to tell you how you can get my go-to tools for optimal sleep and brain health. Your risk of developing chronic issues including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity increases dramatically. If you’re lacking quality sleep, it is detrimental to your overall health. There are many reasons why insomnia is so widespread and the quality of your sleep is influenced by a wide array of factors including your hormones and lifestyle. Insomnia is linked to reduced REM sleep, which is the deepest of the stages of sleep that I will discuss shortly. Ideally, you spend at least 1/3 of your life asleep yet so many people struggle falling and/or staying asleep, also known as insomnia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 1/3 of Americans don’t get enough sleep. The alarming part is that many Americans struggle with a lack of sleep each night. Sleep is an essential function that allows our bodies to recharge, refresh and be alert for the next day! It’s also crucial for our brain health.
