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What is Deep Sleep and Why is it Important for Your Health?
24-June-2021 |
Every time you meet your doctor for a check-up, injury or an illness, you are asked if you have a good sleep over the night. Well, good deep sleep is essential for a healthy body and a happy soul. So people work towards a routine to have seven to eight hours of sleep and feel adequate. However, it is not the duration of sleep but the quality of sleep that really matters! Therefore, you must educate yourself on the sleep cycles and ensure you have a deep sleep for a healthy routine. So, let us get started and understand deep sleep and why it is vital in your life.
Stages of Sleep
Sleep is categorised into two different forms, REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM sleep. Your night will begin with non-REM sleep followed by a brief period of REM sleep. The cycle keeps repeating through the night, approximately every 90 minutes.
There are four different stages in sleep. The first three belong to the non-REM category.
Stage 1
It denotes the start of the non-REM sleep cycle as you move to get asleep from being awake. Your body functions and the brain waves start to relax and slow down at this stage.
Stage 2
It also continues the non-REM cycle and lasts for several minutes. Your body functions continue to slow down, and eye movements stop at this stage. There is also a drop in body temperature.
Stage 3 and Stage 4
You will get into deep slumber mode during stages 3 and 4. It is because your body functions, heart rate and brain waves are the slowest as you fall deep asleep at this stage. Hence, deep sleep is also referred to as 'slow-wave sleep'. It can last upto 90 minutes and even slightly longer in the first half of the night and gets shorter as the sleep cycle repeats.
Stage 5
It is REM sleep and lasts for 90 minutes after moving through the non-REM stages. Your eyes start moving rapidly, heart rate increases and breathing increases at this stage. You will start experiencing dreams as your brain activity increases and moves closer to waking up.
Therefore, deep sleep time occurs at the end of the non-REM sleep and stage 4.
What Duration of Deep Sleep Time At Night Do You Need?
The duration of deep sleep decreases with age. So at a younger age, say, until 30, you should have at least 2 hours of deep sleep for healthy growth and development. At the age of 60 and after that, it is highly unlikely to get even one hour of deep sleep. Therefore, not getting into a deep sleep as you grow older does not indicate a sleep disorder.
You can use electronic gadgets these days to track your deep sleep. It will help you understand if you are getting adequate sleep or if you have to do something to increase it. Make a note of your sleep patterns and have a medical consultation if necessary.
Why is Deep Sleep Necessary?
Deep sleep has a lot of health benefits. It increases your body's overall well-being by contributing to various functions. Here is a detail about it all:
Human growth hormones from the pituitary gland necessary for the growth and development of the body are secreted during deep sleep.
Deep sleep is necessary for cell restoration, tissue and muscle repair.
Enhances memory power and learning capability by increasing the glucose metabolism in the brain. It improves executive functions that involve complex thinking and problem-solving skills.
Strengthens and ensures a healthy immune system to fight common diseases.
Increases blood circulation and the supply to muscles.
The longer your deep sleep, the better your heart is at rest. Therefore, deep sleep ensures good heart health.
When your body is relaxed and well under rest, you are less likely to be hungry. Conversely, there is a hormonal imbalance due to leptin and ghrelin that controls appetite with a lack of deep sleep.
Therefore, deep sleep can ensure you are in the best health!
Tips to Have Deep Sleep
Having realised the importance of deep sleep, you must have it every day for a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few home remedies for deep sleep:
Exercise every day and have a healthy diet plan.
Have a bedtime schedule and follow it regularly.
Bring a healthy bedtime routine such as reading a book, listening to pleasant music, etc.,
Have a comfortable bed and pillows to sleep peacefully.
Stay away from electronic gadgets and bright lights before sleeping.
While following, such tips can bring a good sleep routine, you must also have a stable lifestyle that accommodates life uncertainties. It will help your mind stay at peace and rest satisfactorily.
For instance, financial stability is important to manage family commitments in the short term and long term, handle emergencies and plan for retirement. For this reason, insurance providers have introduced different types of comprehensive life insurance plans that provide a life cover and guaranteed1 returns on maturity. The life insurance quotes have also become affordable to help every individual benefit from the plan options. You can use a wide range of online life insurance calculators to determine the right plan and the applicable premium for the plan.
Tata AIA life insurance plan provides various flexible features to modify the options based on your income and financial requirements in the future. For instance, one can invest in a life insurance plan and receive a regular income for a specified income period starting from maturity while ensuring a life cover. When you have the right financial product in place that can secure your family's future in your absence, you can always sleep peacefully!
Conclusion
Deep sleep is a part of your daily sleep cycle. The quality of deep sleep and duration is important to have a healthy body. It increases growth and development, improves brain function, strengthens the immune system and the overall well being in the long run. Have a healthy routine, lifestyle and diet plan to ensure you have a good sleep quality with adequate deep sleep!
L&C/Advt/2022/Mar/0591
