Eight Versus Six Hours: Sleep Cycle (Part Two)

Previously, we began discussing the complexities of our sleep cycles and the paradoxical nature we might find ourselves in when a night of low sleep may feel better than a night of full rest. We went over the individual sleep cycles, and noted the impact chronic sleep deprivation has on our body and mind. In this second part, we will continue discussing this paradoxical situation and our sleep cycles.

This paradoxical feeling of restfulness on low sleep normally stems from chronic sleep deprivation and even has its own name, “sleep debt denial”. This is caused by the body having “adapted” to a lower amount of sleep, leaving the mind feeling a certain amount is sufficient while the body operates at a lower baseline. This also increases the release of stress hormones that temporarily boost alertness.

During our sleep cycles as well, if we wake up at a certain point in non-REM sleep, we may feel a heightened attentiveness, which can also contribute to this feeling. In the end, while these are adaptive mechanisms for the body and brain, chronic sleep deprivation does pose serious health risks. Beyond the short term, it is important to think about your long term health and function.

We hope you found this second part on how our sleep cycles function and how you can use that to your advantage! At Fox Mattress, we craft all our mattresses right here in the USA, so you know you have a premium mattress to sleep on. Give us a call or visit our Holly Hills location to learn more about our premium offerings today!