The architecture of sleep
Sleep medicine distinguishes several phases (sleep stages) that we typically go through each night – in a structured manner, four to seven times, each lasting approximately 90 to 110 minutes. Essentially, these are (after the sleep onset phase) light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep (dream sleep). This sequence is of paramount importance for health and is known as sleep architecture.
Whether due to stress, shift work, or illness: if the sleep cycle is permanently disrupted, sleep loses its essential restorative function – with serious consequences for body and mind. This ranges from impaired memory to depression, increased risk of heart attack, metabolic disorders, and much more.
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