Sleep Cycles and Stages: What Are They?

We often associate sleeping well with sleeping for many hours, but sometimes rest has more to do with sleep quality than with duration.

Sleeping well is linked to how we move through the different cycles and sleep stages. If we understand this properly, we can try to improve our rest, for example, if we wake up tired, have night-time awakenings or find it very hard to get going in the morning.

How long does a sleep cycle last and what are its stages?

Naturally, sleep cycles are structured into approximately 90 to 110 minutes. This is repeated between 4 and 6 times throughout the night, depending on the person's age and other factors.

In turn, each cycle is divided into several stages, each with specific functions that help us recover physically and mentally. We can divide them into:

N1 stage: drowsiness

This is the transition stage between wakefulness and sleep. At this point, the body begins to relax, breathing slows down and brain activity decreases.

N2 stage: light sleep

This stage accounts for almost 50% of our total sleep. Body temperature drops, as does heart rate. This stage is very important, as it is when memory and learning are consolidated.

N3 stage: deep or slow-wave sleep

This is the most restorative stage. During this phase, the body releases hormones such as growth hormones, repairs tissues and even strengthens the immune system.

REM stage

This stage is characterised by rapid eye movements, hence its English acronym REM (Rapid Eye Movement); as a result, brain activity becomes more intense. This is where the most vivid dreams occur. It also plays a very important role in consolidating emotional memory and creativity.

Therefore, proper and healthy rest involves going through all these stages in a balanced way, both in duration and alternation. So, if sleep is interrupted or any of the cycles are shortened, we will not get adequate rest and we will feel more tired, irritable or perhaps find it harder to concentrate.

Factors that affect sleep cycles

• Stress and worries.
• Excessive use of screens before going to sleep.
• Having an irregular schedule that changes every day.
• Consuming caffeine, alcohol or heavy meals at dinner.

For this reason, we also recommend healthy sleep habits, or good sleep hygiene. In other words, keeping a regular routine, creating a calm environment before going to bed, avoiding stimulants, putting screens away in the hours before sleep, etc. These habits could help us improve our rest and sleep in a healthy way.

Supplements that may help us rest

Many times, because of the pace of life we lead or the unavoidable worries we have in our day-to-day lives, we are unable to improve that rest naturally. That is why at Farmaciasdirect we have different options that may help us achieve it. Whether we need them occasionally, for a sleepless night with no apparent reason, or because we have difficulty falling asleep during a certain period.

• Zzzquil adultos: Helps adult people with occasional insomnia fall asleep.
• Zzzquil niños: In this case, the formula is adapted for little ones. However, they should always take it under adult supervision and on the recommendation of a specialist.
• Zzzquil Forte: This option contains a higher dose of melatonin, meaning a greater concentration, and also includes other ingredients such as vitamin B6, camomile, valerian or lavender, which are also found in Zzzquil adulto.
• Zzzquil comprimidos: The advantage is that they are bilayer tablets. In other words, they have a fast-release layer to help you fall asleep when taking them, while the other layer is prolonged release, meaning it is released throughout the night to support rest and restorative sleep.

It is advisable to take them at least 30 minutes before going to bed, while already creating, as we mentioned, a calm and suitable environment for rest.

In conclusion, we can say that rest and sleeping well are not only about the number of hours we sleep, but also about how we sleep them, the rest we get and the quality of our sleep. If techniques to achieve restorative sleep do not work, we can turn to one of the Zzzquil options that you can find at Farmaciasdirect.

However, if that insomnia or lack of sleep lasts for too long, we should see a doctor so they can assess our situation.