Rapid eye movement(REM) sleepis a stage of sleep.
With a lack of REM sleep, symptoms emerge that can affect your health.
It can lead tofatigue, irritability, changes in mood and memory, and issues with cognition and problem-solving.
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In some cases, medication (like antidepressants) may affect REM sleep quality and quantity.
A lack of REM sleep leads to physical symptoms, too, consistent withsleep deprivationin general.
It can affect cardiovascular health and increase the risk oftype 2 diabetes.
It may also contribute to cancer, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases likeAlzheimer’s.
This article explains what REM sleep is and why it is important.
What Is REM Sleep?
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is one of the two major naturalsleep stages.
The brain is active during REM sleep.
Skeletal muscles are the muscles that control voluntary movements like walking.
Paralysis may prevent you from acting out your dreams.
Without this paralysis,REM sleep behavior disordercan happen.People with this condition act out their dreams during sleep.
It may help you learn and consolidate your memories.
REM sleep is thought to be helpful for procedural memory.
This is the jot down of memory you use for something like dates or lists of facts.
REM sleep may also help you solve problems.
REM sleep is characterized by other biological changes.
During REM sleep:
During REM sleep, you have vivid dreams.
They may unfold like a movie in which you are an actor.
When the content of a dream is disturbing, you may experience it as a nightmare.
How Much REM Sleep Do You Need?
Symptoms of depression may be linked to REM sleep.
What Causes a Loss of REM Sleep?
Sleep deprivation has real impacts on health and well-being.
The most obvious is sleepiness.
Feeling sleepy can affect your work and family life.
It can also make it dangerous to do things like drive a car.
They can be affected by brain changes.
These subjects may have normal memory and no loss of function.
However, mood disorders can change the experience of dreams (for example, having more nightmares).
Summary
Rapid eye movement sleep is the sleep stage associated with dreaming.
During this stage, your brain is active and your muscles are relaxed.
Sleep hasstructure, called architecture, and REM sleep happens at regular intervals during the sleep period.
This is typically every 90 to 120 minutes.
Scientists don’t yet understand why we need REM sleep.
It may be important for memory and daytime function.
Many factors can influence how much REM sleep you get.
Substance use and sleep disorders like sleep apnea can all have an effect.
If you’re worried about REM sleep deprivation, contact a board-certifiedsleep physician.
Ask about the benefits of a diagnostic sleep study.
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