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While you are sleeping, you are unconscious, but your brain and body functions are still active. Sleep is a complex biological process that helps you process new information, stay healthy, and feel rested.

During sleep, your brain cycles through five stages: stage 1, 2, 3, 4, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Different things happen during each stage. For example, you have a different pattern of brain waves during each one. Your breathing, heart, and temperature may be slower or faster in some stages. Certain phases of sleep help you

• Feel rested and energetic the next day
• Learn information, get insight, and form memories
• Give your heart and vascular system a rest
• Release more growth hormone, which helps children grow. It also boosts muscle mass and the repair of cells and tissues in children and adults.
• Release sex hormones, which contributes to puberty and fertility
• Keep from getting sick or help you get better when you are sick, by creating more cytokines (hormones that help the immune system fight various infections)
• You need all of the stages to get a healthy sleep.

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