Before we look at sleep disorder, let’s have a basic idea about sleep first.
What is sleep and why do we need it?
It is an essential function that allows our body and mind to recharge.
Different stages of sleep
Once we are asleep, we are in a sleep cycle divided into 4 stages. The first three stages are called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and the last stage is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Stage 1 NREM:
It is the transition between being awake and asleep, and it typically lasts for several minutes. Your muscles relax, breathing, heart rate, brain waves and eye movement start to slow down, as they are more active when you are awake.
Stage 2 NREM:
It is characterised by a deeper sleep, and your muscles are more relaxed, breathing and heart rate keep slowing down. Body temperature will decrease; eye movement cease and brain waves remain slow. Stage 2 is normally the longest of the four stages.
Stage 3 NREM:
This stage plays a crucial role in making you alert and refreshed the next day. Heart rate, breathing and brain waves will be at their lowest levels at this stage, and your muscles will be as relaxed as possible. Its duration decreases throughout the night.
Stage 4 REM:
The first REM stage occurs around 90 minutes after you fall asleep. As the name suggests, your eyes will move back and forth rather quickly under your eyelids. Breathing rate, heart rate, and blood pressure will begin to increase. Dreaming will normally occur during REM sleep, and your arms and legs will become paralysed – it is claimed this is intended to prevent you from physically acting out on your dreams. The duration of each REM sleep cycle increases as the night progresses. However, the duration will decrease as age goes up, causing elder people to spend more time in the NREM stages.
What is sleep disorder?
Sleep disorders are conditions that disturb your normal sleeping patterns. There are more than 80 different types of sleeping disorders. Here are some major ones:
Insomnia
The most common sleep disorder. Being regularly unable to fall asleep and keep the state of sleeping.
Common symptoms:
- Find it hard to fall asleep
- Usually lie awake
- Wake up several times during the night
- Find it hard to concentrate during the day
Hypersomnia
Being unable to stay awake during the day.
Common symptoms:
- Regularly nap during daytime and not feel refreshed
- Still need long hours of sleep at night
Parasomnia
Acting in unusual ways when falling asleep, sleeping or waking from sleep, such as walking, talking, or eating. It can be classified as NREM-related, REM-related or other.
NREM-related Parasomnia:
- Night terrors
- Sleepwalking
REM-related Parasomnia:
- REM sleep behaviour disorder
- Nightmare disorder
Sleep apnoea
Breathing disorder (stops for around 10 seconds and starts) during the sleep.
Common symptoms:
- Breathing stopping and starting
- Loud snoring
- Waking up a lot
Sleep tips:
ASMR does help!
You might like to visit the following websites:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/ten-top-tips-good-sleep
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/how-to-get-to-sleep/
You might want to take a small quiz:
Acknowledgements:
