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Sleeping Basics |
Sleeping Problems (Home) > Sleeping Basics > Glossary of Terms Glossary of TermsThe following definitions are either used within this book, or are relevant or related to the topics covered in this site:Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS): is a sleep disorder in which sufferers feel very sleepy early in the evening (e.g. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM) and wide-awake later in the night (e.g. midnight, 1:00 AM, etc). Atonia: see Muscle Atonia. Automatic Behavior: occurs when a person continues to function during sleep episodes, for example talking, putting things away, etc, but awakens with absolutely no memory of performing such activities. It is estimated that up to 40 percent of people with Narcolepsy experience Automatic Behavior during sleep episodes. Brain Waves: fluctuations of electrical activity that can be measured by electrodes.
Cataplexy: sudden episodes of loss of muscle function, ranging from slight weakness (such as sagging facial muscles, limpness at the neck or knees, and/or the inability to speak clearly) to complete body collapse. Such episodes may be triggered by sudden emotional reactions such as laughter, anger, surprise, or fear, and may last from a few seconds to several minutes. Even though muscle function has been lost, person suffering from Cataplexy remains conscious throughout the episode. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): is caused by irregularities in the brain's signals that instruct our bodies to breathe. Chronotherapy: is a treatment that attempts to gradually move a person's bedtime and rising time later and later each day, around the clock, until the times become more acceptable. For example, at the start, a person may sleep from 4:00 AM until noon. This sleep pattern may be shifted by 1-3 hours later each day, so on the second day, they would be sleeping 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and on the next day they would sleep 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and so on, until they reach an acceptable sleep period, such as 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Circadian Rhythm: is a roughly-24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. The term "circadian" comes from the Latin circa, meaning "around", and dies, meaning "day". So, the term circadian literally means "around a day". A person's Circadian Rhythm determines when and how long they are awake and asleep during each day. The Circadian Rhythm of particular living organisms depends (at least partly) on external cues such as sunlight and temperature. Early researchers observed that some sort of "internal" rhythm must exist, because plants and animals did not react immediately to artificially-induced changes in daily rhythms. However, a mechanism for adjustment does exist, and plants and animals eventually adjust their internal clock to a new pattern, especially if it is sufficiently regular and not too far from what is considered normal for the species. Delayed Sleep-Phase Syndrome (DSPS): is a chronic sleep disorder in which the patient's internal body clock is not in sync with the morning-rise / evening-sleep pattern of the majority of adults. The disorder can lead to psychological and functional difficulties. People who have this disorder often appear to be "night owls", because they are awake most of the night and sleep for most of the day. Delta Waves: are very slow brain waves that are commonly occur during Stage 3 sleep. Desynchronosis: see Jet Lag. Dyschrony: see Jet Lag. Dysrhythmia: see Jet Lag. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): (also known as Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)) causes repeated awakenings during the night due to unpleasant burning sensations resulting from stomach acid flowing upward into the throat while asleep. Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD): see Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Heartburn: is the major symptom of acid in the esophagus, characterized by a burning discomfort behind the breastbone (sternum). Hypersomnia: is an excessive amount of sleepiness, resulting in an inability to stay awake. Hypnagogic Hallucinations: are vivid, often frightening, dream-like experiences that occur while dozing, falling asleep, and/or while awakening. These hallucinations can be auditory, tactile, and/or visual. Idiopathic: a disease or condition that has no known causes. Jet Lag: (also written as jetlag and jet-lag, and also known as Desynchronosis, Dysrhythmia, and Dyschrony) is a condition resulting from alterations to a person's circadian rhythm. Such alterations may be caused by shift work, transmeridian travel (travel to different time zones in different locations), or altered day length. Light Therapy: (also called Phototherapy) consists of exposure to specific wavelengths of light using lasers, LEDs, fluorescent lamps, dichroic lamps or very bright, full-spectrum light, for a prescribed amount of time. Light Therapy with a full spectrum lamp, usually 10000 lux for 30-90 minutes, has proven effective in treating some DSPS sufferers. Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS): is a mouth guard that is similar to those used to protect the teeth during sports. For apnea and snoring sufferers, the mouth guard is designed to hold the lower jaw slightly down and forward relative to the natural, relaxed position, and this position keeps the tongue further away from the back of the airway, allowing easier breathing during sleep. A MAS device is simple and user-friendly, and it may be enough to relieve mild apnea and improve breathing and reduce snoring in some patients. Melatonin: is a hormone found in all living creatures from algae to humans, at levels that vary in a diurnal cycle. Melatonin is important for the body's maintenance of its circadian cycle. Mixed Apnea: occurs when a person suffers both Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). Muscle Atonia: is muscle paralysis that occurs during REM sleep Narcolepsy: is a neurological condition most characterized by Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), episodes of sleep, and disfunction of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. The EDS can be quite overwhelming, and people suffering from Narcolepsy may fall asleep at any time spontaneously and unwillingly, even after having an adequate night of sleep. Night Terror: (also called Pavor Nocturnus and Sleep Terror), is a parasomnia sleep disorder characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness. During a Night Terror episode, a person wakes abruptly from the fourth stage of sleep (a very deep stage of sleep), with waking usually accompanied by gasping, moaning, or even screaming. It is difficult and often impossible to fully wake the person, and after the episode they normally settle back to sleep without waking. Occasionally, the Night Terror episode can be recalled by the person in the morning, but normally it is not remembered. Noctambulism: see Sleepwalking. Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) Sleep: are the Non-REM stages of sleep, that is Stages 1 through 4. Non-REM Sleep (NREM): sleep that is not REM sleep, this includes sleep stages 1-4. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): is the most common type of sleep apnea, and is caused by the temporary relaxation and partial collapse of soft tissue in the respiratory tract at the back of the throat, and this causes a blockage to the passage of air into the lungs. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD): (also called Nocturnal Myoclonus) is a sleep disorder where the patient moves involuntarily during sleep. This can range from a small amount of movement in the ankles and toes, right up to wild flailing of all arms and legs. These involuntarily movements are more common in the legs than arms. Phototherapy: see Light Therapy. Polysomnogram: is a device that continuously records the brain waves and a number of other nerve and muscle functions during nighttime sleep, the results of which can be used to detect and distinguish between a range of possible sleep disorders. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): (also called Wittmaack-Ekbom's Syndrome, which is not to be confused with Ekbom's Syndrome) is a neurological sleep disorder that involves an irresistible and uncontrollable urge to move in order to stop uncomfortable, painful, or odd sensations in the body, most commonly in the legs. Moving the affected body part eliminates the sensation, providing temporary relief. However, the sensations and urge to move may return immediately after ceasing movement, or at a later time. RLS can start at any age, including early childhood, and is a progressive disease (it gets worse with age) for a certain percentage of sufferers. Sciatica: is a pain in the leg due to irritation of the sciatic nerve. The pain generally goes from the back of the thigh to the back of the calf, and may also extend upward to the hip and down to the foot. In addition to pain, there may be numbness and difficulty moving or controlling the leg. Sleep Apnea: (also called Sleep Apnoea) is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, which force the sufferer to wake up to resume normal breathing, and disrupt and disturb their normal sleep cycle. There are three types of Sleep Apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), and Mixed Apnea. Sleep Apnoea: see Sleep Apnea. Sleep Disorder: (also known as somnipathy) is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can cause a range of issues and complications and can also interfere with mental and emotional function. Sleep Paralysis: is the temporary loss of the abilities to talk or move when waking up. Sleep Paralysis may last from a few seconds to several minutes, and is often frightening but not dangerous for the person suffering from Sleep Paralysis. Sleep Spindles: are bursts of rapid brain wave activity, for example, during Stage 2 sleep. Sleeping Sickness: (also called African Trypanosomiasis) is a parasitic disease in people and animals caused by protozoa of genus Trypanosoma and transmitted by the Tsetse Fly. The disease is very common in certain regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, an area covering about 36 countries and including approximately 60 million people. It is estimated that 300,000 - 500,000 people are infected, and about 40,000 die from the disease every year. Three major epidemics have occurred in the past hundred years, in 1896 - 1906, 1920, and 1970. Sleepwalking: (also written as Sleep Walking and also called Noctambulism and Somnambulism)is a parasomnia sleep disorder where the sufferer engages in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness ((such as eating, dressing, or walking) while asleep or in a sleep-like state, without the conscious knowledge of the person. Slow Wave Sleep (SWS): see Stage 3 and 4 Sleep. Snoring: is the act of breathing through the open mouth in such a way as to cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound which may vary from a soft noise to a very loud and unpleasant sound. Snoring most commonly occurs during sleep, but it can also occur for a short time immediately after death. Somnambulism: see Sleepwalking. Somnipathy: see Sleep Disorder. Stage 1 Sleep: is a period of drowsiness during which the muscles begin to relax, the eyes move very slowly, and a person can be easily awakened. In Stage 1, we may drift in and out of sleep for about 5 to 10 minutes before moving onto the next stage of sleep. Stage 2 Sleep: is a deeper sleep than Stage 1, but it is still classified as light sleep, where eye movement stops and brain activity slows down with occasional bursts of rapid waves, called sleep spindles. Also during Stage 2, the heart rate drops and body temperature decreases. Stages 3 and 4 Sleep: comprise deep sleep, during which all eye and muscle movement ceases. In these stages, it can be difficult to wake a person. Stage 3 is characterized by very slow brain waves (called delta waves), interspersed with smaller, faster waves. In Stage 4 sleep, the brain waves are virtually all very slow delta waves. Stage 3 and 4 sleep is often called Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) for this reason. It is very difficult to wake someone during Stages 3 and 4, and during these deep stages of sleep some people may experience sleepwalking or night terrors, and children may experience bedwetting. People awakened during deep sleep do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes after they wake up. Stage 5 - Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep: it is during this stage of sleep that dreams occur, the muscles of the body stiffen, the limb muscles may become temporarily paralyzed, the eyes move rapidly in various directions, the heart rate increases, breathing becomes more rapid and irregular, and the blood pressure rises. Males may also develop penile erections. Stages of Sleep: there are five recognized stages of sleep, each of which is characterized by different types of brain activity:
The body cycles through the different sleep stages from stage 1 to REM, and then begins the cycle again with stage 1, throughout the rest period. Each stage represents a different physical and mental state of the body. During some stages, the body is in a lighter sleep and can be awakened more easily, while others indicate a very deep sleep. All are essential to a proper night's sleep. Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs): also known as "mini-strokes". Wittmaack-Ekbom's Syndrome: see Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
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Sleep glossary, sleep term, sleep index
