Natural patterns of sleep
THE healing properties and feelgood features of a good sleep are undeniable – the quality of your sleep could either propel you to rejuvenation or leave you feeling tired and demotivated.
Falling asleep may be easy for most of us but staying asleep for the necessary amount of hours is another issue altogether. It may not be common knowledge but sleeping is an intricate process on its own – one that we often take for granted albeit spending up to a third of our lives in bed.
Sleep busters
If you find yourself spending most of the night awake in bed, rest assured you are not alone. According to sleep scientists in Canada and the United States, approximately a quarter of the adult population have problems sleeping, while about 10% have insomnia.
Sleep loss is now more common in the 21st century due to various reasons, the main culprit being the drastic addition of a myriad of electronic devices into our lives. They may have benefits but causes the quality of our sleep to drop due to the electromagnetic fields they produce.
Cycle and stages
The first step in obtaining a good night’s sleep is by understanding it. When we fall asleep, our body enters a process referred to as a sleep cycle. Each sleep cycle lasts for about 90 minutes and entails five different stages – light sleep, intermediate sleep, early deep sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep – with each stage playing different roles in achieving optimum rest.
Light sleep is when our muscles relax, preparing us to sleep while intermediate sleep slows down our breath and heart rate, decreasing our body temperature. Early deep sleep is our body’s preparation for deep sleep, the fourth stage in the cycle. The fifth and final stage is the REM sleep, also known as Rapid Eye Movement – the last chapter where our dreams occur.
Each stage lasts from five to 20 minutes on average except for the early deep sleep, which lasts for about 45 minutes due to the amount of components of the chapter. The most crucial of all the chapters, however, is deep sleep, which we need to undergo without any interruptions to feel well rested.
Naptime protection
Sleep disruptions due to technology aside, high levels of stress are also responsible for our sleep loss. Stress causes our muscles to not be able to relax, hindering us from completing even the first step in the sleep cycle. Additionally, movement during sleep, noise or any situation that awakens us can disrupt our sleep cycle and deprive us from deep sleep.
Besides an understanding of the process of sleep, the mattress also plays an important role in enabling us to optimally complete our sleep cycle. Our sleeping environment is crucial for an uninterrupted rest and no other brand understands sleep better than Getha.
Getha – the specialised 100% Natural Latex bedding company – has a wide range of mattresses suited for every individual.
Getha Sleep Therapy Centres are equipped with all your sleep needs from sleep accessories to mattresses, pillows and more. As we spend one-third of our lives asleep, the quality of our sleep affects the quality of our lives when we are awake. Start your day refreshed and well rested with Getha.
■ For details on Getha 100% Natural Latex bedding products, visit www.getha.com.my or drop by one of 16 Getha Sleep Therapy Centres nationwide for a consultation customised to your needs.