Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The importance of teen sleep

after researching a little more we decided to go a little deeper into our research and consult a sleep professional



We went to a sleep study at the Florida Hospital where Doctor Thornton explained to our group that each night our bodies go through a sleep cycle which is a VERY important attribute to our growth and well-being .

the sleep cycle is made up of 5 stages: stage 1, (5-10 min) where the person first starts drifting to sleep, stage 2 is a light stage of sleep where heart rate slows and temperature decreases, preparing the body for deep sleep. The next stage, called stages 3 &4, lasts 5-15 minutes where there is a rhythmic continuity throughout the body, this is deeper sleep. The next sleep is called non R.E.M. sleep. this is when all the stages are cycled through in the pattern 1,2,3,4,3,2 R.E.M.
Contrast between NORMAL and REM sleep


this R.E.M. stage is next. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement. In this stage, there is deep dreaming, the body becomes paralyzed, this is where growth and the most beneficial sleep occurs. Because teens are not getting enough R.E.M.
sleep, they are hurting their bodies, not resting it properly, and can loose growth from skipping this step in sleep many nights.