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The Sleep Disorders Center Articles |
Explain One Type of REM Sleep DisorderPatients who suffer from REM sleep disorders most commonly don't sleep deeply at night. Since REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is the deepest level of sleep. This is not to be confused with the recently diagnosed REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in which patients become restless and violent during REM Sleep. REM sleep disorder also refers to people who do not experience a natural progression into REM sleep. REM sleep normally occurs at least three times during a night, lasting about 90 minutes each. Patients who do not drop into progressive non-REM sleep never reach the REM level, which is the level at which the body restores and revitalizes. Since lack of sleep can cause mental and physical issues, it is often the cause of many symptoms that doctors and patients are unable to explain. If the patient sleeps lightly (or not at all) due to non-REM sleep, the lack of such will become an REM sleep disorder. Lack of REM sleep leads to extreme tiredness and irritability. Interestingly, it is believed that sleeping pills reduce the amount of REM sleep, but some medications actually induce it. Dreams occur during REM sleep; and it is often hard to wake someone out of it. However, those with REM sleep disorders sleep very lightly, waking up easily with the feeling of being "wide awake" when opening their eyes. There are times when someone may think they are asleep but wake up realizing that what they thought they were hearing or dreaming was simply background noise; essentially, they've been laying with their eyes closed. It is because of the biological clock running incorrectly that allows people with REM sleep disorders to stay awake for 48 or 72 hours at a time. This also confirms the assumption above that they may have been wide awake with their eyes open. However, medication such as Elavil can create a very sleepy affect, dropping the patient into sleep within an hour - and allowing the patient the opportunity to fall into and out of REM sleep naturally. Information regarding REM sleep disorders and REM sleep behavior disorder are available on various sites on the Internet including Sleepnet.com, Sleepdisorderchannel.com, holisticonline.com, and the National Sleep Foundation at sleepfoundation.org. It is important to have REM sleep disorders tested at a sleep lab or sleep study facility; there are several different tests that can be done at one time. |
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Uncovering the Source of Adult Sleep Problems
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