Unit 1 Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellness Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 72 Although most dreams occur during REM sleep, they can also occur during other sleep stages (Figure 3.8). Dreams that occur during REM sleep—when the brain is particularly active—are very vivid. People who wake up at the end of a REM sleep period are more likely to remember their dreams. How dreams influence a person’s well-being is unclear because it is difficult to study dreams. This difficulty is because people often forget most of their dreams. Some sleep researchers believe that dreams play a valuable role in daily life. They believe dreams help people remember information, resolve conflicts, and regulate their moods. Dreams may provide important information about a person’s deepest feelings, thoughts, and motives. The Impact of Insufficient Sleep Getting enough sleep is just as important to good health as eating well or exercising. Unfortunately, there is no way to train your body to function well on less sleep. Getting insufficient sleep on a regular basis can lead to health conditions, accidents, and poor performance in both school and athletics. Health Conditions Not getting enough sleep can have a negative effect on a person’s health in many different ways. People who do not get enough sleep are more likely to get colds and other types of infections. Inadequate sleep on a regular basis can result in serious health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Children who do not get enough sleep might not grow at the expected rate. A person’s memory and learning can also be affected by lack of sleep. Fun Facts About Dreaming You forget ninety percent of your dreams within ten minutes of waking. Blind people dream about scents, sounds, and feelings. Twelve percent of people dream in black and white. Most people dream four to seven times per night. Your longest dreams occur closer to morning. The most common emotion experienced in dreams is anxiety. Figure 3.8 These fun facts about dreaming explore this body function that people do not fully understand. During which stage of sleep does dreaming typically occur?