Sleep Subjects and Terms Related to Sleeping

A sleep disturbance of the circadian rhythm, sometimes learned, characterized b a pattern of going to sleep very early a night and waking up very early in the morning.

A medication designed to combat depression, but sometimes it is also given to stimulate or to promote sleep.

The active ingredient in most over-the-counter sleep preparations and a medication designed to combat the symptoms of allergies or the common cold.

Brief interruptions of breathing during sleep caused by failure of the brain to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respiration.

Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea and can require mechanical ventilation.

Brief interruptions of breathing during sleep caused by physical obstruction to the flow of air.

The air cannot flow through the nose or mouth, although efforts to breathe are made by the person. The basic problem may be blockage in the mouth or nose.

Sleep apnea that is associated with air passage obstruction may require losing excessive weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, sleeping on one side, medications to relieve nasal congestion, a breathing device, or some kind of surgical procedure.

1. A temporary stoppage of breathing while sleeping, often resulting in daytime sleepiness.
2. Sleep apnea is classified as obstructive or central.

Medical treatment depends on the type of sleep apnea present

• Sleep apnea which is associated with air passage obstruction may require losing excessive weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, sleeping on one side, medications to relieve nasal congestion, a breathing device, or surgical procedures.
• Central sleep apnea is uncommon and caused by problems in the brain that impair the signals to breathe and can require mechanical ventilation.

Any disorder that affects, disrupts, or involves sleep.

The most common sleep disorder is snoring, although it is usually not medically significant.

Insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and sleepwalking are also sleep disorders.

Many large medical centers have diagnostic and treatment facilities dedicated to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.

Purposeful moving, usually, but not always, including walking while in a deep stage of sleep.

Sleepwalking occurs most frequently in children, particularly boys. Sedatives tend to exacerbate rather than to cure sleepwalking.

The best measures are preventive: Ensure that the sleepwalker is in a safe room for walking and cannot accidentally fall through an open window or down any stairs.

Some types of sleepwalking are related to seizure disorders, bipolar disorders, and other neurological conditions, but most cases are transitory and due to unknown causes.

A surgical treatment for snoring in which heat energy is used to remove tissues of the uvula and soft palate.

The uvula is a small fleshy "V"-shaped extension of the soft palate that hangs above the tongue at the entrance to the throat.

The palate is the roof of the mouth, which separates it from the nasal cavity. It consists of a bony hard palate at the front and a muscular soft palate at the back.