Sleep is made up of different stages. The ten-minute period of light
sleep (drifting off from wakefulness) is called Stage One. Stage Two is
deeper and lasts about 20 minutes. Stages Three and Four come after
this, and are types of deep sleep.Deep sleep is the part of
sleep that our body and brain needs to recover from the day. It's
sometimes called delta sleep, after the delta waves the brain
generates. We don't dream during this time. After about 90 minutes of
deep sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep begins. During a
normal night, people usually cycle through the various stages several
times. Problems arise when the pattern of cycles is broken.Are we getting enough?
Those
of us who don't have the luxury of an afternoon nap still tend to get
sleepy at about this time. Interestingly, people who increase their
night-time sleep find that this afternoon 'dip' disappears. A
ten-minute nap at lunchtime is just as effective.Sleep problems, including dozing off, can be a symptom of many other conditions, from problems with the thyroid gland to depression - and even occasionally rare sleep disorders such as narcolepsy.
So it's important to speak with your GP if you're currently
experiencing insomnia or another sleep problem, since it could be
indicative of another condition.Sleep and mood are interlinked
in intriguing ways that are still not understood. But a satisfying
sleep, like a satisfying meal, can leave one happy and content - with
room perhaps for just a little more.Remember to use your bedroom primarily for sleeping, making it as comfortable, airy and dark as possible.