Why is my sleep log segmented?
I'm interested in knowing why my sleep data is split up. Instead of having my sleep, data reported in one chunk for the day. It’s broken up into two very difficult to read charts.
iPhone 13 Pro
Awake: It takes time to fall asleep and we wake up periodically throughout the night. This time is represented as "Awake" in your charts.
REM: Studies show that REM sleep may play a key role in memory and refreshing your brain. It's where most of your dreaming happens. Your eyes will also move from side to side. REM sleep first occurs about 90 minutes after falling asleep.
Core: This stage, where muscle activity lowers and body temperature drops, represents the bulk of your time asleep. While it's sometimes referred to as light sleep, it's just as critical as any other sleep stage.
Deep: Also known as slow-wave sleep, this stage allows the body to repair itself and release essential hormones. It happens in longer periods during the first half of the night. It's often difficult to wake up from deep sleep because you're so relaxed.
Using sensors, the iPhone can detect periods of inactivity or movement during sleep and make a rough estimation of the sleep stages based on general patterns and algorithms. However, this method is not as precise as more advanced sleep tracking methods and may not capture the full complexity of your sleep architecture.
To simplify the presentation of sleep data and make it more accessible to users, the Health app categorizes sleep into discrete stages like Deep, Core, REM, and Awake. It provides a general understanding of how much time you spend in each stage, allowing you to get a basic idea of your sleep quality and patterns without delving into the detailed nuances of sleep physiology.
While the discrete representation may not provide the same level of accuracy as professional sleep studies, it can still serve as a helpful tool for individuals to gain insights into their sleep habits and make adjustments to improve their sleep hygiene.