Sleep Cycle Chart
Sleep is a very important foundational aspect of our health, so it's essential that we are getting enough sleep and also the right type of sleep. This chart below shows the different stages of sleep from REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) which is where we dream a lot and process the events of the day to create long term memory through to stages 1 - 4 of sleep where we move from lighter sleep in an Alpha wave state through to the deep sleep in the Delta wave states.
It is in these deep Delta wave states (stage 3 - 4) that our body is able to heal and regenerate itself, so it is very important to ensure we are going through all 5 stages during our sleep cycles. A full sleep cycle normally takes 90mins. The ideal amount of time we are to sleep a night is between 7 - 9 hours.
There are many things that can disrupt our sleep cycles including stress, adrenal fatigue, staying up late, using harsh lighting, drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, shift work, jet lag and more. There are many ways we can test for these underlying issues including Cortisol Salivary Testing and Sleep Profile Testing (testing for cortisol and melatonin at 12 - 2am).
If you would like more help in regulating your sleep cycles and improving your sleep feel free to call our clinic on 0416 775 530 or book an appointment now by clicking the book now button in the navigation bar. We'd love to help you get a refreshed good night sleep!