ANCSLEEP BLOG

Rapid Eye Movement, REM, sleep is the fourth and final stage of each sleep cycle. This stage is the closest to being awake that you can be, partly due to the amount of eye movement that happens. Your heart beats faster and you breathe faster because this is the stage where dreams happen. 

It's important to understand sleep cycles. A good night of sleep has anywhere from four to six sleep cycles that last 90-110 minutes. There are four stages of sleep, the first three known as non-REM; NREM1, NREM2, NREM3. Then REM is the final part before we begin the cycle all over again. 

Sleep is important for a variety of reasons, but getting good sleep is not as easy as it seems. For some, sleep may actually seem impossible. For others, they may think they are getting good sleep, and think that it's normal to feel tired during the day. Although that midday slump hits, it is not normal to be excessively tired throughout the day. This is an indication of poor sleep. Although sleep disorders may be the cause of poor sleep, more often than not, poor sleep hygiene is. Unlearn some of those poor habits and begin sleeping well!

Sleep is vital for your overall health and mental health. Whether you aren't able to fall asleep easily, or experience too many waketimes throughout the night, the impact on your mental health can be severe. 

The brain does a lot of restoration and recharging throughout the night, during sleep. If sleep is fragmented, or simply doesn't happen, then this can increase the risk for mental health disorders, fatigue, and increased stress levels.

Sleep is essential, and your sleep habits can tell you a lot about your mental health. So what's the best way to learn your sleep habits? Through a sleep study. Continue reading to learn more about what a sleep study can help you determine about your mental health. 

Sleep plays a critical role in our lives, especially in terms of mental health and brain function. When sleep is disrupted, there are going to be negative consequences. Poor sleep can have severe effects mentally, emotionally, and physically. Significant health issues, like depression, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease are some serious consequences of poor sleep. Poor sleep can be caused by lifestyle and poor sleep behaviors, but in some, it can be caused by an underlying sleep disorder. 

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where sleepers stop breathing periodically throughout the night. It can be categorized into three different types: obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is very common, while central is more rare. 

Learn why central sleep apnea occurs, and it's potential affect on mental health. 

Sleeping naked may be a point of contention for you. Like, what if there is a fire or a break-in and then your caught completely in the nude. However, there may be many benefits to cuddling in the sheets without clothes on that can put those fears to rest. Continue reading to learn why sleeping naked may be the best hack you've tried to date. 

On this blog, we talk a lot about establishing a good sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is by far the best method for establishing a good sleep routine that leaves you feeling rested and ready to take on the day! 

But what exactly is sleep hygiene? It's this term that is sort of thrown around without a lot of context. However, it is an important part of improving your sleep health. Therefore, it's important that you understand what it is, as well. Continue reading for a more in-depth explanation of what sleep hygiene actually is, so you can better implement it into your life.

Acid reflux is the uncomfortable burning sensation in your throat that almost feels like vomit. It hurts, it tastes and smells disgusting, and can wreak havoc on you sleep. Acid reflux causes symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation, or the feeling of having a lump in your throat - like it's difficult to swallow. Radiating chest pain can also be an uncommon symptom that lasts from minutes to hours and can cause people to wake up from their sleep. 

Continue reading to learn why acid reflux is late at night, its effects on your sleep, and what you can do to avoid these issues. 

Alcoholics are those that abuse alcohol and drink it in excess. Among the other health problems they may face, such as liver disease, obesity, heart disease, and neurological disorders, sleep is another aspect of their lives that can be disrupted. Alcohol may help individuals fall asleep faster, but this is about the only benefit alcohol has towards sleep. 

Alcohol does not allow sleepers to enter the phase "deep sleep" which is important for restoration and next-day function. The more alcohol that one consumes, the more this sleep is interrupted. Abstinence from alcohol can further exacerbate sleep issues, increasing sleep latency, and leading to other health issues like insomnia. Continue reading to learn how to manage sleep problems associated with alcoholism. 

The season does not only come with changes in the environment, or changes in your mood. They also come with changes in your sleep. With each new season, the light patterns vary, which can cause your sleep to fluctuate. 

This is because light controls our sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm. Therefore, increased light during the spring and summer months can have different effects than decrease light during the fall and winter months. 

Not only does light play a role, but so does temperature. Colder temperatures make you want to sleep longer than warmer temperatures. 

Knowing what these seasonal fluctuations are, and how they can impact your sleep may be useful for helping you manage your sleep. You can make the necessary changes by based on whatever the season is and your sleep requirements. Continue reading to learn more!

Have you ever heard your alarm go off, and got up and did your normal routine, just to realize it was all a dream? This is known as false awakening. They are one of several weird things that can happen during rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. 

Continue reading to find out why they occur, how they are related to other strange sleeping phenomenon, and when it's definitely time to talk to a physician.