How Sleep Works: Stages and Cycles Explained 💤🧠

Sleep isn't a single state - it's a journey through stages that repeat 4-6 times per night. Each stage has a specific function.

Sleep Stages 🌙

Stage 1 - Transition (5-10min):
Light sleep, easy to wake up, muscles relax.

Stage 2 - Light Sleep (20min):
50% of total sleep, temperature drops, preparation for deep sleep.

Stage 3 - Deep Sleep (20-40min):
Delta waves, hard to wake up, muscle repair, growth hormone.

Stage 4 - REM Sleep (10-60min):
Vivid dreams, eyes move, body paralyzes, emotional processing.

Duration: 90-110 minutes
Repetitions: 4-6 per night
Ideal: Wake up at the end of a cycle

Deep Sleep:
Physical repair, growth, immunity.

REM Sleep:
Mental health, memory, creativity.

Quality sleep means going through all stages properly. Interruptions harm restoration.

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