REM Sleep

[brittanie1986]

I have noticed according to my Fitbit I get too much REM sleep and in what I have read possibly causes my anxiety and agitation. It doesn't seem to matter how much I sleep, I still over do the REM sleep. Even if everything else is right on the mark. Is there someway to help this or is this just "me"?

[JohnnyRow]

What is your basis for thinking you get too much REM?

[lenny4d]

He/she is comparing against "the benchmark" (3rd option for display of sleep stats). 

I am not a sleep expert but as long as you are not 100% more I would not worry. If you are CONSISTENTLY much more awake than what is average (50% - 100% more than benchmark), it is time to wonder. Also note that it doesn't track (if auto-sleep detection is on) how long it takes you to get into sleep. But you can force manual sleep and that should provide more insights, many people have a problem getting into sleep.

[brittanie1986]

My Fitbit says I consistently get over 25% REM sleep.

[brittanie1986]

Something I read again today during research: "The main problem that too much REM sleep would cause in most people would be the possibility of waking up more often and ending up not as rested. Since REM sleep is quite similar in a lot of ways to waking brain activity, and can cause awakening by prompting the muscles to flex or jerk, excessive REM sleep can leave you feeling tired and depressed."

In saying that, I have noticed I am awoken a lot when I first fall asleep by my arm jerking or something like that almost every night. Don't know if this has anything to do with it or not.

[PopeyC]

Hi, just wondering if you have seen a change in your sleep patterns since you posted this? I’m a new Fitbit user and am getting roughly 30% REM. 

[brittanie1986]

No it's still about the same.

[Corrinefx]

I have the opposite problem. It’s showing me drastically low REM results. I’ve even been woken up by my alarm from a dream & it isn’t tracking it. I’m not that confident in it’s results 

[Rich_Laue]

I've moved this thread from the hardware troubleshooting board to the lifestyle discussion on better sleep. 

[WavyDavey]

Try 1 hour of cardio at 5AM, then see how it affects REM that night.