What is REM sleep?
REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, which means rapid movement of the eyes, says Dr Prashant, consultant physician at Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Greater Noida.
REM is the stage of rapid eye movement during sleep. During this stage, the brain is highly active and causes us to dream. REM is also considered the deepest stage of sleep.
Everyone can experience REM sleep even in the morning. No matter when you go to bed, sleep follows a cycle, depending on the length and quality of sleep.
“REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movement and occurs mainly in the first 90 minutes of sleep. During this stage, brain activity is normal as when awake, but the body remains paralyzed,” says Dr. Prashant.
REM sleep plays an important role in consolidating memory, reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills, and is especially beneficial for people who regularly work night shifts or stay up late, added Prashant.
According to Dr. Ishu Goyal, consultant - Department of Neurology, Sir HN Reliance Hospital, Mumbai (India), average sleep consists of 6-7 cycles and has many different stages in each cycle, such as falling asleep, NREM (non-rapid eye movement sleep) and REM (rapid eye movement sleep).
During REM sleep, the brain is actively working to process information received during the day and form long-term and short-term memories.
REM sleep disturbance is common in degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and dementia, and it can occur years before the onset of the disease.
“If a person does not get enough sleep, they may experience memory problems, fatigue, lethargy, daytime sleepiness and frequent headaches,” added Ishu Goyal.
What happens when you don't sleep at night?
Dr. Prashant said that skipping sleep at night will increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
“You can suffer from memory problems, cognitive impairment, slow reaction time along with circadian rhythm disruption leading to indigestion, mood swings. It also suppresses the immune system,” says Prashant.
Meanwhile, Dr. Goyal says, morning sleep cannot compensate for nighttime REM sleep due to our body's inherent hormonal environment.
However, if one must stay up at night, it is best to ensure that one gets some REM sleep.
Dr. Goyal notes that before getting REM sleep at night, you should avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.
People should try to sleep for 1 - 1.5 hours at night to complete their entire REM sleep requirement for health protection.
