Wondering what happens during sleep? Think of your body like a factory. As you drift off to sleep, your body begins its night-shift work:

• Healing damaged cells
• Boosting your immune system
• Boosting your immune system

We all know the value of sleeping well, and we have all experienced the feeling of being refreshed after a good night's sleep (and the feeling of fatigue after a poor night's sleep). But even though we know this, in our busy society, many of us are not getting the quality six to eight hours of sleep our bodies need.

Understanding the sleep cycle

Understanding what happens during sleep also means understanding the sleep cycle. During the night, our bodies cycle through two recurring phases of sleep: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-REM or non-rapid eye movement). Both phases are important for different functions in our bodies.

If the REM and NREM cycles are interrupted multiple times throughout the night - either due to snoring, difficulties breathing or waking up frequently throughout the night - then we miss out on vital body processes, which may affect our health and well-being not only the next day, but on a long-term basis as well.¹

What happens if you do not get enough sleep?

If your body does not get a chance to properly recharge (by cycling through the two phases of sleep, REM and NREM), you are already starting the next day at a disadvantage. You might find yourself:

• Feeling drowsy or moody¹
• Struggling to take in new information at work, remembering things or making decisions²
• Craving more unhealthy foods, which could cause weight gain^1,2

If this happens day after day, night after night, you can imagine the strain it would place on your, body and overall health.³ Find out how to talk to your doctor about your sleep habits.