The average person requires at least one hour of sleep for every two hours spent awake. Sleep affects everyday life; a person who does not sleep is negatively affected by changes in behavior and physical symptoms. There are many disorders that can alter a person's sleep pattern; what are they and how can they be treated to ensure safe and balanced sleep? What should you avoid to be able to sleep without interruptions? Finally, what can be done to ensure that REM sleep is achieved. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is important and must be achieved so that our mind and body are not affected. It is important to keep it balanced so that our perspective and participation in daily activities, such as studying and sports, do not change. The first question to ask is: what is REM sleep? REM is the acronym for Rapid Eye Movement: that is, “the phase of sleep most associated with dreaming” () It is the fifth of the five phases of sleep which is characterized by an individual's rapid and random eye movement. In addition to eye movement, body temperature decreases by 1 to 2°F, breathing patterns vary from regular/balanced to irregular during REM sleep, heart and blood pressure decrease, and brain activity remains active during REM sleep. sleep. As stated on the “Characteristics of Sleep” site, sleep is basically a “period of reduced activity” with “decreased reactivity to external stimuli” ( ). All of this explains the nature of sleep, but why do we sleep and why is it important? An average baby from birth to 2 months needs at least 12-18 hours of sleep; an average child aged 3 to 5 years needs at least 11-13 hours of sleep; an average teenager aged 12 to 18 needs at least 8.5-10 hours of sleep and on average......middle of paper......"Chapter 7-Mind, consciousness, mood and psychosis : sleep and waking." The brain book: development, function, disorder, health. Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2012. 234-237. Print."Healthy sleep." Healthy sleep. Np, nd Web. November 2, 2013.Rosen, Marvin. "Insomnia and sleep disorders". Sleep and dream. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2006. 38-46. Print.Rosen, Marvin. “Chapter 4-Sleep Research.” Sleep and dream. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2006. 47-56. Print.Scott, Elaine and John Brien. “It's all in your head.” Everything about sleep from A to ZZZZ. New York, NY: Viking, 2008. 9-13. Print.Sweeney, Michael S.. “Mental States: Brain at Rest.” Brain: The complete mind: how it develops, how it works, and how to keep it sharp. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2009. 186-197. Press.