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I Slept Great! Did You? Unfortunately, the odds are against us all—75% of adult Americans experience at least one sleep problem (2005 Sleep Poll by the National Sleep Foundation). So, whether it's snoring, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, or narcolepsy that you (or someone you love) suffers from, let's help each other. I Slept Great! is made up of physicians, family therapists, parents, and sleep disorder sufferers.
What does a good night's sleep look like?
Unfortunately, some of us don't know what great sleep is. . .
5 Stages of SleepThere are five levels of sleep. Researchers have found these five levels by monitoring muscle tone, eye movement and electrical activity in the brain. The five stages of sleep create one cycle of sleep. You should have five to six cycles of sleep each night. Each cycle of sleep should take about 90 minutes with increased time spent in the fifth level, the REM stage.
Stage I- Takes five minutes, it is between sleep and wakefulness
Short dreams of normal daily images
Stage II- Deeper level of sleep
Characterized by slow breathing and heart rate
50% of sleep is in this stage
Stage III & IV- Are the deepest levels of sleep
Slowest brain waves
Body monitors and restores itself
Usually begins after you have been sleeping for half an hour
Note: Stages I-IV are the non-rapid eye movement stages and are to help restore and rebuild the body after the long day. In these four stages temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure decrease; muscles relax and metabolism slows down.
Stage V- This stage is different from the other stages of sleep. In this stage the body is very active. Some researchers even suggest that in this stage your brain is more active than when awake.
The eyes shudder quickly back and forth, giving the name Rapid Eye Movement (REM) to this stage.
Lasts from 11-25 minutes
25% of sleep is REM sleep in adults
Strange dreams
Some researchers suggest that the extreme activity is due to the information learned throughout the day and processed during REM sleep. Another reason could be that neurological synapses grow during REM sleep. These things have to happen in your body to make you more alert and ready for your day. So, clearly dedicating enough time for you body to help itself during sleep needs to be a priority in your day.
I'm too busy to sleep!
What will not getting sleep really do to me?
In our crazy daily lives we have started to look at sleep as a luxury, but sleep is a necessary part of our anatomy. We need an average of 7-8 hours of sleep a night, but most of us are not getting that. Our society sometimes discourages the proper amount of sleep by saying that sleep is a waste of time. We've all heard (or maybe said) the common phrase "I will sleep when I am dead." Well, not sleeping could get us there more quickly than someone who knows the advantages of good sleep.These are some things that lack of sleep contributes to:
*Impairment in memory
*Diminished learning abilities
*Emotional instability
*Lowered immune defenses
*Muscle aches and pains
*Fatigue
*Increased risk of depression
*Unregulated body weight.
We need sleep to function properly and there is nothing wrong with admitting that we need or even want it.
Our favorite sleep-related books and products
My friend Dr. Jim Stocks (a sleep physician) gave me an excellent list of his favorite books on sleep. I've also included some additional products I like--including the ambient fountain I'm using to help me sleep at night.
The Family That Couldn't Sleep: A Medical Mystery (Medical Mysteries) by D.T. Max
Fascinating true story of a family with an epic hi more...1 point
HoMedics Envirascape Illuminated Rock Garden - Relaxation Fountain
EnviraScape enables you to create an all-encompass more...1 point
Sleeptracker Wake Up Monitor
Sleep and sleeplessness have an effect on your phy more...1 point
Sleep Apnea-The Phantom of the Night: Overcome Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Win Your Hidden Struggle to Breathe, Sleep, and Live by William A. Broughton
One of the best books on sleep apnea.0 points
Sleep Thieves by Stanley Coren
A good look at how we as a society choose producti more...0 points
Soleil Sunrise Alarm Clock, Dawn Simulator
In nature, sunlight wakes you by triggering your b more...0 points
HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine
Make you sleep environment soothing and relaxing w more...0 points
Video Diversions
This short film by Mitchell Rose makes us laugh everytime. He uses a dance troupe to create fake sleep disorder videos. Graceful and humorous all at the same time.
Case Studies from the Groat Center for Sleep Disorders
MitchellRose.com & BodyVox Dance Co. present this (fake) scientific investigation of ASDICT (Adult Sleep Disorder Induced by Childhood Trauma). See more comedies at MitchellRose.com and find out about BodyVox at BodyVox.com.
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by CRGORDONMD
Welcome! I'm Dr. Charley Gordon from www.ISleptGreat.com. I've started this lens to share some of the medical and health issues that have intereste...
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