Posts Tagged ‘stages of sleep’
Worst Menopause Symptom? Lack of Sleep
This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Worst Menopause Symptom? Lack of Sleep
April 22, 2008 — New research shows that women in early menopause report that lack of sleep is their biggest problem.
Researchers interviewed 110 women. All were healthy white women between the ages of 43 and 55 with an average age of 49. They all had experienced their last menstrual period within the last three years.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Insomnia
While sleeping medication is big business, research has shown that the most effective treatment for insomnia is actually cognitive behavioral therapy. This approach to psychotherapy was originally pioneered by such leading researchers as Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck. Beck’s outstanding research, theoretical formulation and clinical techniques were first published in a series of significant books and articles in the 1960′s and 1970′s. Further research since the publication of the breakthrough “Cognitive Therapy of Depression” in 1979 has shown the utility and effectiveness of this treatment approach with numerous psychological and physical disorders including anxiety, chronic pain and insomnia.
The most important aspect of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for insomnia is that it actually treats the cause of the insomnia itself – and not just the symptoms as medication does. Furthermore, CBT can be combined with medication management for patients who need rapid relief or to help initially break a pattern of insomnia.
Stages of Sleep
Stages of SleepPDF version for Printing
One of the most pervasive misconceptions about sleep is that sleep is just a matter of our bodies “turning off” for several hours, followed by our bodies “turning back on” when we awake. In short most of us think of sleep as a passive and relatively constant and unchanging process. In fact, sleep is a very active state. Our bodies move frequently, as we roll about during the night, and, more importantly to the psychologist, our brain activity is even more varied than it is during the normal waking state. Before we begin talking about the characteristics of sleep it is useful to consider the tools researchers use to measure these stages of sleep.
Sleep Stages: Measures
When a sleep researcher sets out to study the process of sleep he or she generally relies on three fundamental measures, as the basis for defining stages of sleep. First, gross brain wave activity is considered, as measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG). This machine provides the summary of electrical activity from one area of the brain. Second, muscle tone is measured with a electromyogram (EMG) machine. Third, eye movement is recorded via an electro-oculogram (EOG). As we will see, the EEG reading is the most important measure in differentiating between the stages, while the EMG and EOG are most important in differentiating rapid eye movement (REM) sleep from the other stages.
Sleep Study Types for Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, and More
Sleep studies are tests that watch what happens to your body during sleep. The studies are done to find out what is causing your sleep problems. Sleep problems include:
- Sleep apnea, when an adult regularly stops breathing during sleep for 10 seconds or longer. This may be caused by blocked airflow during sleep, such as from narrowed airways. Or it may be caused by a problem with how the brain signals the breathing muscles to work.
- Problems staying awake, such as narcolepsy.
- Problems with nighttime behaviors, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or bed-wetting.
- Problems sleeping at night (insomnia). This may be caused by stress, depression, hunger, physical discomfort, or other problem.
- Problems sleeping during the day because you work at night or do rotating shift work. This sleep problem is called shift work sleep disorder.
- Conditions such as periodic limb movement disorder, which is repeated muscle twitching of the feet, arms, or legs during sleep.
Sleep studies can also determine whether you have a problem with your stages of sleep. The two stages of sleep are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). Normally, NREM and REM alternate 4 to 5 times during a night’s sleep. A change in this cycle may make it hard for you to sleep soundly.
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Baby sleep training: The basics
Baby sleep training: The basics Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board Last updated: January 2007 What is sleep training?
Sleep training is the process of helping a baby learn to get to sleep and stay asleep through the night.
Some babies seem to develop a regular sleep routine quickly and easily. But many others have trouble settling down to sleep — or getting back to sleep when they’ve been wakened — and they need help and guidance along the way.
When can I start and what are the stages of sleep training?
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Having Your Child Evaluated for Sleep Apnea
HAVING YOUR CHILD EVALUATED FOR OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA
If you suspect that your child has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you may want to consult first with your child’s primary care provider (usually a pediatrician or family physician) and share your concerns. You may also choose to consult with an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist or ENT) or a pulmonologist (a specialist in lung problems) who deals with children. Sometimes, because of the hyperactivity, inattentiveness, aggressive behavior, irritability, and mood swings associated with pediatric OSA, a mental health provider, such as a child psychiatrist or psychologist, or a neurologist may be the first to recognize the problem. However, before seeing any specialist for an evaluation, you should check with your insurance company as you may need a referral or have to go to a specific provider.
Doctors who specialize in sleep medicine may also practice in your area. They have usually trained under other sleep specialists and/or studied sleep medicine through a residency program, continuing medical education (CME) courses, and scientific meetings. Physicians certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine have passed standardized tests on both pediatric and adult sleep disorders. You should ask any doctor or health care provider about his/her credentials and experience, especially in dealing with children. You should be satisfied with the explanations and how it will be diagnosed and treated in your child’s particular case.
Guide to Healthy Sleep on
Your Guide to Healthy Sleep
- Introduction to sleep
- What is sleep?
- How much sleep is enough?
- Why sleep is good for you and skimping on sleep isn’t
- How much sleep do you need?
- Tips for a good nights sleep
- Could you have a sleep disorder?
- Patient Discussions: Sleep – Problems Experienced
- Find a local Sleep Specialist in your town
Are You Sleep Deprived?
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stppler, MD
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
No matter how much sleep you need, if you don’t get enough, you will suffer the effects of sleep deprivation. Research has shown that in tests of driving ability and hand-eye coordination, people deprived of sleep perform as badly as, or even worse than, people who are intoxicated. It’s no wonder that drowsiness is a major cause of traffic accidents and deaths.
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Normal Sleep, Sleep Physiology, and Sleep Deprivation: eMedicine Neurology
Normal Sleep in Adults, Infants, and the Elderly
Normal sleep is divided into non–rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. NREM sleep is further divided into progressively deeper stages of sleep: stage N1, stage N2, and stage N3 (deep or delta-wave sleep). As NREM stages progress, stronger stimuli are required to result in an awakening. Stage R sleep (REM sleep) has tonic and phasic components. The phasic component is a sympathetically driven state characterized by rapid eye movements, muscle twitches, and respiratory variability. Tonic REM is a parasympathetically driven state with no eye movements. The REM period length and density of eye movements increases throughout the sleep cycle.1
Waking usually transitions into light NREM sleep. NREM sleep typically begins in the lighter stages N1 and N2, and progressively deepens to slow wave sleep as evidenced by higher-voltage delta waves. N3 (slow wave sleep) is present when delta waves account for more than 20% of the sleep EEG. REM sleep follows NREM sleep and occurs 4-5 times during a normal 8-hour sleep period. The first REM period of the night may be less than 10 minutes in duration, while the last may exceed 60 minutes. The NREM-REM cycles vary in length from 70-100 minutes initially to 90-120 minutes later in the night.
“Can’t Get to Sleep? It’s Only a Matter of Letting Go.” by Dr. Darryl Pokea.
Can’t Get to Sleep? Its only a Matter of Letting Go. by Dr. Darryl Pokea 2004 all rights reserved
The greatest thing, then in all education is to make the nervous system our ally instead of enemy. William James, The Father of Psychology
The most important part of the integration of personality is to make peace with one’s own body and be at home with it. Susan Rako M.D & Harvey Mazer, M.D.For our evolution to continue we must let go of any remnants of the “Slave/Master Paradigm” from previous and archaic civilizations. This affects our minds and bodies even now more than we realize. Darryl Pokea, Psy.D.
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Overview – Sleep Disorders
Overview
Sleep is absolutely essential for normal, healthy function. Scientists and medical professionals still have much to learn about this complicated physiological phenomenon. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, about 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic long-term sleep disorders each year and an additional 20 million people experience occasional sleep problems.