If you plan to wear a Fitbit device, some of the most beneficial features that you will enjoy are its ability to monitor and gather data on your fitness progress and sleep pattern. Such is owed to the technological principles that have been used in combination with scientific information.
Many people became interested in this particular device because they want to know if they are sleeping well. However, they often make a second guess because they do not know what is a normal sleep pattern on Fitbit devices.
Another problem is that some of you might not be able to fully understand the report given by the Fitbit device because it is composed of the time you have spent sleeping in different stages. However, such can be resolved by knowing each stage.
What are the Different Stages of Sleep?
Sleep specialists divide your sleep into five different stages with four of them numbered and the fifth one being REM (Rapid Eye Movement). When it comes to your Fitbit device, there are only three stages recorded namely light, deep, and REM. Nonetheless, that is not so peculiar because stages that are somewhat similar have been combined.
Light Sleep Stage
The light sleep stage is when your sleep is a little choppy or vulnerable to outside stimulus. In simpler words, this is the time when you are not entirely asleep, and you can still hear an environmental noise. This stage actually comprises the first two stages of sleep defined by sleep researchers.
The first stage is when you are transitioning into sleep. During this time you can hear sounds, and you are still somewhat aware of your surroundings.
This short period leads to the second stage which is the main light sleep stage and most of your time is spent on this moment. This is the time when your metabolism is regulated and the brain is processing memories.
You can say this is the time of the sleep when body maintenance is taking place that is why your heart rate and breathing will decrease.
Deep Sleep Stage
The deep sleep stage is when your body is least responsive to things happening around you and is resting because the brain is no longer doing a lot of thinking and all the muscles are relaxing. This stage is rather short and only lasts until your body is recuperated.
Additionally, during this stage, growth hormones are secreted and your body does all the repairing works while the heartbeat returns to normal.
REM Stage
This is the stage where your brain is highly active and your body is highly inactive. This is the time when you are dreaming and the heart rate increases. As the name implies, the eyes keep moving in random directions because your brain is doing a lot of work.
Researchers say that your brain is clearing off memories and regulating emotions at this time and REM usually occurs in the second half of the night that is why you dream more towards the morning. The protein synthesis in your body is also at its highest; thus, keeps all the processes going.
What is a Normal Sleep Pattern on Fitbit Devices?
First of all, sleep is a variable need and differs for everyone. Some individuals may be off to a fresh start in the morning with only six hours of sleep while some may need about eight.
Various factors determine what is normal and healthy for you such as age or weight. Nevertheless, with your Fitbit device, you can get a bit of an idea about how your different stages fare against the average for your age.
The Important Data
On average, light sleep constitutes the most of your sleep duration ranging from 50-60 percent of your total night’s sleep. Surprisingly enough, this amount does not have much to do with how restful you are the next day.
It is just the time that is left after deep and REM stages.
The deep stage is the most important one and should comprise from at least 10 percent to 25 percent. This is highly dependent on the age, as the older you become, the lower your deep sleep gets.
However, if you are not getting enough of this stage, you could potentially be looking at medical problems like pain, obesity or sleep apnea.
REM takes place in the second half of the night and should take about 20 to 25 percent. If you sleep for fewer hours, you will notice that this percentage will reduce. Getting enough of this stage is equally important for your brain or otherwise, you will feel tired and will not be able to focus.
Evaluating the Data
To determine if you have normal or abnormal sleep patterns, on your Fitbit device, tap on Benchmark, and you should be able to see the average sleep patterns for people of your age. After which, compare your data with such average data you have retrieved.
Interestingly, even though these three stages have cycles that usually last about 90 minutes, the Fitbit will combine all the durations to show you a cumulative result. If your sleep stages fall in these percentages, you are getting a normal sleep that is healthy enough to function properly for the entire day.
Final Conclusion
Having a normal sleep pattern is essential for us to have a better psychological and physical health. Today, such is quite hard to achieve because of the many stresses and demands that we face at work, school, and the community.
Hence, the information on sleep pattern can come in quite handy if you are not getting enough sleep and have troubles in your sleep. With that in mind, those who notice significant problems in their sleep patterns should consult a physician.
That is why the main benefit of the sleep monitor feature of the Fitbit device is to help determine if you have sleep problems that can often lead to anxiety, depression, and mood swings. What is better is that evaluating your sleep data recorded in the device is not very difficult.
Nonetheless, the best way to figure out what is a normal sleep pattern on Fitbit devices is to keep a baseline. Just keep tracking your sleep and analyze your own body and behavior during the day.
The day you function properly and are able to do things you had scheduled may indicate that the night’s sleep was healthy enough.