Consequences of Sleep Deprivation
∙Impaired Memory and Thought Process
∙Fatigue
∙Increased Pain
∙Depression
∙Poor memory
∙Decreased Immune Response
Caffeine and other energy stimulants can temporarily overcome the effects of sever sleep deprivation, but only for a limited amount of time. The consequences will catch up to you sooner than you think.
Stages of Sleep
Sleep begins in Stage One and then progresses into stages two, three, four, and five. After the last stage, your body usually returns to stage two and is repeated until you enter REM, or the Rapid Eye Movement sleep. Once REM sleep is completed, your body then returns back to Stage Two. This cycle continues four or five times throughout the night.
Stage 1 is the beginning of your sleep cycle and only lasts about five to ten minutes. Your eyes are closed and to others, you seem to be asleep. However, if you’re awoken you may claim you weren’t even asleep yet. Polysomnographs, which are sleep readings, show a reduction in activity between wakefulness and Stage 1. The brain produces high amplitude ‘theta waves,’ which are extremely slow brain waves. Many people have noticed or been told that they twitch as you’re falling asleep. This is because during Stage 1, many notice the feeling of falling asleep which causes muscle contractions called hypnic myoclonia.
Stage 2 only lasts for about twenty minutes. During this stage, the brain begins to produce bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain waves known as sleep spindles. Polysomnographic readings show positive and negative waves. These waves indicate spontaneous periods of your muscles contracting and then relaxing. The heart rate slows and body temperature decreases. The body is then ready to fall into Stage 3, a deep sleep.
Stages 3 and 4 are the deep stages. Deep, slow brain waves known as delta waves begin to emerge during Stage 3. Stage 4 is often called Delta Sleep because of the brain waves being produced. Stage 4 is deeper than Stage 3, and lasts approximately 30 minutes. Sleepwalking occurs during this stage.
The final and most well-known stage is REM, or Rapid Eye Movement. It’s called this because of the increased respiration rate and increased brain activity, causing the eyes to move rapidly underneath the eyelids. REM sleep is also called the paradoxical sleep because it’s a mixture of states of excitement and muscular immobility. Basically, the brain and other body systems get to work; they become more active, repairing and regenerating tissue, building bone and muscles, and strengthening the immune system, all while the muscles stay relaxed. REM sleep is usually entered ninety minutes after falling asleep. The first cycle may only last a short amount of time, but lengthens in time each cycle. It can last up to an hour as sleep progresses. This is mainly when dreaming occurs, due to heightened brain activity. But paralysis occurs simultaneously in the major voluntary groups. This is when lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis occurs.
