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Think of sleep as your body's alone time. Just as it's important to carve out a portion of your day to focus on you, it's crucial for your body to have time to recover from the rigors of work, errands and household chores, as well as for your brain to make sense of the information it•absorbed. After falling asleep, you move through four stages of nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREM) before beginning the fi rst of several periods of deep, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep; REM and NREM sleep then alternate every 90 minutes or so. The body uses NREM to rest and recover. As muscles relax, body temperature drops and breathing slows. Growth hormones and extra blood fl ow from the heart help restore and grow tissues. Your immune system gets a boost, and the body begins stockpiling energy for the day ahead. During REM sleep, you dream, and the brain makes sense of everything you encountered during the day and fi les away the important information as memories. SLEEP, INTERRUPTED With so many important functions dependent upon sleep, interruptions can have a big impact on health. Many people struggle to sleep through the night or fall back asleep when they wake up too early, which is a type of insomnia. If that sounds like you, don't try to force yourself back into dreamland. Breathe deeply, and tense and relax your muscles. If you're still wakeful after a few minutes, get up and do something to make you drowsy, such as read a chapter of a dull book. Also, kick your napping habit, as naps — while restorative in the short term — can make it di— cult for individuals with insomnia to fall and stay asleep. ✚ While you sleep, your body keeps working. If you struggle with sleep, there's good news. Most sleep disorders can be improved or cured. Weight gain, Typež2 diabetes and high blood pressure are risk factors for sleep disorders. Talk to your provider to find out if a sleep study at CHRISTUS St.žVincent Regional Sleep Center is right for you, especially if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: + di‚culty functioning during the day + exhaustion, even after a full night's sleep + nodding o¥ while driving + snoring or di‚culty breathing when sleeping At CHRISTUS St.žVincent Regional Sleep Center, an American Academy of Sleep Medicine-accredited sleep center, we can help you achieve the rejuvenating sleep you need. Our state-of-the art sleep study lab combines sophisticated technology with the comforts of home. Enjoy your private room complete with a private bath, full-sized adjustable bed and flat-screen TV. CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Sleep Center 440 St. Michael's Drive, Suite 150 Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 913-5363 Do You Have a Sleep Disorder? Is interrupted sleep leaving you tired all the time? Talk with your provider about any sleep concerns. To find a provider near you, call (505) 913-3000 or visit stvin.org. 10 st vin.org | Summer 2017 HEALTH AWARE 10