You undoubtedly already know that getting insufficient sleep will leave you exhausted the next day. But what if you get the necessary amount of sleep but still feel exhausted the following day? Non-restorative sleep is what happens when a person wakes up feeling exhausted despite having the necessary amount of sleep (typically between 7 and 9 hours).
What makes restorative sleep different from other types of sleep?
High levels of revitalising sleep that leave one feeling refreshed define restorative sleep. It’s crucial to complete the whole sleep cycle if you want to get a full night’s rest. For a night of unbroken sleep, you need either REM or deep sleep.
Non-restorative sleep occurs when a person gets the required amount of sleep but still feels exhausted when they wake up.
Age-related differences in non restorative sleep needs to exist. The typical adult requires between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, depending on the source. Even after getting this much sleep, you can still feel tired, which might indicate that you are getting non-restorative sleep.
What methods do various sleep stages promote rejuvenation?
REM sleep and the third and fourth non-REM sleep stages are the most restorative phases of sleep. The four main phases of sleep are N1, N2, N3, and Rapid Eye Movement (REM). It is far more likely that you won’t feel extremely rested when you get up in the morning if you miss these two phases of sleep.
Indications of restless, dull sleep
It is reasonable to believe that sleep did not have a restorative impact on your body if you wake up feeling fatigued after a full night of rest.
According to one research, the following additional symptoms may point to inadequate sleep:
- Experiencing constant fatigue and exhaustion.
- Being so sleep deprived that you are unable to do any daytime tasks.
- Feelings of emotional openness and vulnerability.
Do these symptoms point to non-restorative sleep or a more severe sleep disorder?
Non-restorative sleep stands out among the many sleep types. This is “the subjective feeling that sleep has not been sufficiently refreshing, frequently despite the appearance of physiologically normal sleep,” according to one definition.
Other typical sleep issues include:
Insomnia
Insomnia is referred to as having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Narcolepsy
This syndrome causes “sleep attacks,” which are brief episodes of unplanned sleep, and excessive daily drowsiness.
Apnea when sleeping
Obstructive sleep apnea patients often snore loudly and have breathing pauses and restarts during sleep.
The Restless Legs Syndrome
RLS (restless limb syndrome) is characterised by pain or discomfort in the legs, which in turn leads to excessive pacing.
Non-restorative sleep is associated with a number of sleep disorders and may coexist with other sleep issues.
Why do some individuals struggle to get quality rest?
Poor sleep patterns that do not replenish the body may be caused by both lifestyle factors and underlying disorders. Poor sleep has been connected to a number of illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and depression. According to studies, people who are depressed often have trouble falling asleep, and their sleep is frequently unrestful and interrupted. Bipolar disorder sufferers may also have sleep disturbances. Treatment focused at reestablishing regular sleep patterns may be quite beneficial for patients with severe depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
