This article will reiterate the importance of quality sleep and understanding what goes on in your body when you are asleep.

When you fall asleep, your body is getting ready to work to repair your damaged cells, boost your immune system and recharge your heart and entire cardiovascular system for the next day. 

We all know what it feels like to sleep well: you wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the new day. We also know the feeling of extreme fatigue after a poor night’s sleep. The shocking fact is that Americans aren’t getting enough sleep and are not making it a top priority to receive the health benefits that quality sleep provides.

Once you understand your sleep cycle, getting enough sleep will make more sense. There are two phases: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-REM), and both phases are important for our bodies.

REM sleep is where your dreaming occurs, and it is essential to our brains so we may process emotions and memories. It is also said that it is important for learning because it stimulates the different regions of your brain.

NREM occurs throughout most of your sleep cycle, with many of the health benefits taking place during this time. This is when tissues repair and grow, energy is restored, and hormones are released.

When these two phases are interrupted due to sleep apnea, we miss out on essential health benefits for our bodies. Missing out on quality sleep is a huge disadvantage: You feel extra drowsy, irritable, hungry and can potentially have problems with your memory and decision-making.

When you constantly miss out on a good night’s sleep, especially due to sleep apnea, you need to do something about it because it could potentially increase your risk of developing other life-threatening conditions.

If you or someone you know is struggling with sleep apnea, please share this information.

Here at Someville Dental Sleep Medicine, we are dedicated to helping sleep apnea patients live their best life and achieve quality sleep. Please reach out to our office to schedule an appointment if you are dealing with this condition.