What is REM Sleep? Here are the answers you’ve been looking for…

When you go to sleep, your body undergoes REM and non-REM sleep. So, what exactly is REM? Here are a few key facts to help you understand what happens while you’re asleep.

What does REM Stand for?

REM is short for Rapid Eye Movement. It is this sleep cycle where your eyes move around quickly beneath your eyelids. Your pulse speeds up, and dreams happen during this phase of sleep.

Is REM Sleep Important?

Absolutely. Slumber is when your body rests and restores itself. The REM cycle portion of the evening is when the brain undergoes stimulation, particularly in the learning regions.

Moreover, a recent study suggests that getting enough REM sleep before a fearful experience can help shield a person from developing post-traumatic stress disorder.

The high brain activity and colourful dreams of this sleep phase also are when the body processes the information from that day. It could be a discussion with someone, to name just one example. Research also shows an association between dreaming and mood, as well as between low-quality REM sleep and depression.

How to Improve REM Sleep?

Given its crucial role for the body and mind, getting more and better-quality REM sleep needs to be a priority. Whenever possible, for instance, try to wake up naturally rather than being abruptly woken by an alarm that disrupts endings of dreams.

Look for a quality mattress as well that suits your sleep position and is firm yet comfortable to provide proper support for the body. That way, you can truly relax and enter dreamland. When looking online, save on mattresses by using Net Voucher Codes for discounts from leading retailers.

When does REM Start?

About 90 minutes after the time you fall asleep, the REM cycle begins, according to WebMD. The first stage of REM is about 10 minutes long and the stages after that increase in time.

The final stage can be upwards of an hour. Generally, the body does not move during this time of the night.

REM starts after multiple other sleep stages. It follows a state of relaxation in bed, then a light sleep, and next slow-wave sleep.

Getting a good sleep consistently is important for the best mental and physical health. While one bad night of sleep won’t ruin your next day, consistently falling short on z’s can slow you down.

When Sleep Doesn’t Come Easily

Unfortunately, sleep can be interrupted for several reasons. For example, you might get busy at night, and the stimuli keep you from drifting off in bed as you think about the occurrences. Instead, try relaxing with herbal tea or taking a bath before bed to help you unwind.

Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, can also interrupt your sleep cycles. In this case, see a sleep professional to help you start on a path to regularly getting a deep slumber.

It’s also a good idea to sleep in a cool room rather than a hot one; a high body temperature can make you sweat and wake up in the middle of a dream. Also, turn off electronics before bedtime as the blue light they radiate can keep you awake longer than anticipated.

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