Getting To Know 4 Sleep Stages To Get Healthy Rest Quality

JAKARTA - Sleep is not just a rest activity, but is a complex biological process that is divided into several important phases. In one night, the human body usually passes through four stages of sleep that form one cycle, which then repeats several times.

This sleep cycle is vital because it plays a role in physical recovery, memory consolidation, and emotional balance. Each stage of sleep has its own role and contributes greatly to the quality of sleep as a whole.

According to dr. Tiur Sihombing, Sp.KJ(K), a Psikiatri Geriatri Consultant who graduated from the University of Indonesia, the sleep process consists of four main stages which take place in one cycle with a duration of about 90 to 120 minutes. He emphasized that this pattern is not only experienced by the elderly, but also by babies and young adults.

The first stage is the non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) phase 1 or NREM-1, which usually lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. In this phase, a person just starts to fall asleep, heart rate and respiratory rate start to slow down, and muscles start to feel relaxed. Even though you are asleep, a person is still quite easily awakened by external stimulation such as sound or movement.

Next is the NREM-2 stage, namely the mild sleep phase which lasts about 20 to 25 minutes. In this phase, body temperature decreases, breathing and heart rate become more stable, and eye movements start to stop. This is a stage where the body begins to enter deeper sleep conditions.

The third phase, namely NREM-3, is the deepest stage of sleep. In this phase, the body is in a very relaxed state, and physiological activities such as heart rate and breathing reach the slowest point.

"This is a phase when the network repair process, cell regeneration, and strengthening the immune system occurs," said dr. Tiur.

In addition, he also added that at this stage a person tends to be very difficult to build. The fourth stage is the REM (rapid eye movement) stage, where brain activity increases again, the eyes move quickly behind the petals, and dreams usually occur.

Although the brain becomes active, the body muscles are in near paralyzed condition, which prevents the body from moving during dreams. The REM phase usually lasts about 10 minutes in the first cycle and takes longer in the next cycle.

After completing these four stages, the body will return to its early cycle and keep repeating throughout the night. Understanding these stages can help a person improve his sleep patterns and avoid sleep disorders that can have an overall health impact.