Have you ever wondered what happens when you drift off to sleep? Contrary to what you may think, your brain doesn’t just “switch off!” It moves through several important sleep stages, each one critical to maintaining your health and feeling refreshed. If you often feel fatigued when you wake up, it could be an interruption to these cycles like sleep apnea. Continue reading to learn more about sleep cycles and how sleep apnea may be robbing you of your quality of life.
The first stage occurs just as you’re drifting off. It’s easy to wake up during this phase since your sleep is shallow. Your muscles begin to relax, breathing slows, and your heart rate decreases. Unfortunately, conditions like sleep apnea can disrupt this gentle transition, causing frequent wakeups and keeping you stuck in this shallow phase.
The next stage is slightly deeper and makes up around half of your total sleep cycle each night. When you reach this phase, your body temperature drops and your brain starts to produce special waves called “spindles” that keep you from waking up.
This is where the real rejuvenation happens. Deep sleep is essential for tissue repair, boosting your immune system, and recharging your energy. Waking up in this phase leaves you groggy, disoriented, and feeling physically “rough.”
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is the dreaming phase. It’s critical for memory, learning, and emotional health. During REM sleep, your muscles are relaxed, but your brain activity increases dramatically.
Your body and mind go through these stages repeatedly throughout the night as you rest, and sleep apnea can interrupt your breathing, causing brief awakenings you might not even notice.
These constant disruptions keep you from reaching deeper, restorative sleep stages. Over time, unrestrained sleep apnea can lead to chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, memory issues, and even heart problems.
This is why it’s so important to get your symptoms diagnosed by a physician and begin treatment. The longer you wait, the more dramatic these issues become.
Good sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for overall health and well-being. If you often wake feeling exhausted, snore loudly, or experience pauses in breathing at night, sleep apnea might be the cause. Fortunately, your sleep dentist can help identify sleep apnea and offer solutions like custom oral appliances or referrals for a sleep study. So, give them a call today and get the rest you deserve!
If you’re struggling with sleep, our sleep experts at GoTo Sleep Center Mesa can help restore your rhythm. We use the latest technology and techniques to tackle the root cause of the disorder, leading to more restful nights and energetic days. Call (623) 239-0007 to schedule a sleep apnea consultation with our team or visit our website to learn more about our services.
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