Unusual actions that people experience just before going to sleep, while they are asleep, or during the arousal phase between sleep and awake are collectively referred to as Parasomnia. These behaviors, which include sleepwalking, sleep paralysis, and night terrors, differ greatly in terms of their features, intensity, and frequency. These events, according to experts, happen as the brain switches between sleep and wakefulness.
Different types of Parasomnia?
Based on the stage of sleep at which they occur, insomnias are categorized. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep are the two primary phases of sleep. Other types of Parasomnias can be classified as “other.”
1. What is Non-REM?
The first three phases of sleep, from when you first fall asleep until about the first part of the night, are known as non-rapid eye movement sleep, or non-REM sleep. Arousal disorders are another name for non-REM sleep disorders.
Non-REM parasomnias involve speech and movement. During these moments, you are not fully conscious or awake, you don’t react well to attempts to communicate with you, and the following day, you typically don’t recall or only remember some of the occurrences. Most people with non-REM parasomnias are between the ages of five and twenty-five. People with a family history of such Parasomnias are more likely to experience non-REM parasomnias.
Parasomnias that happen during Non-REM sleep include:
Sleep terrors:
When you have this kind of sleep problem, you wake up in a panic. You can cry out in fear or shout. Although they typically last 30 seconds, sleep terrors can extend to several minutes. This disease also manifests as sweating, rapid breathing, wide eyes with dilated pupils, and a racing heart rate.
Sleepwalking (somnambulism):
If you are a sleepwalker, you wake up from sleep and wander around while keeping your eyes open, even though you are genuinely unconscious. You might speak (sleep talking) or mumble. You might carry out difficult tasks like operating a vehicle or playing an instrument, as well as odd actions like moving furniture or urinating in a closet. Owing to your lack of awareness of your surroundings, sleepwalking can be hazardous and result in injury. You might trip over things or lose your balance.
Confusional arousals:
When you suffer from this type of sleep disturbance, you could look somewhat awake, but your sense of time and space is distorted. You stay in bed, may open your eyes, sit up, and even weep. You have difficulty understanding questions asked of you or answering them in a way that makes sense, and you talk slowly. The episode could last a few minutes or several hours. Arousals characterized by confusion are typical in childhood and tend to become less frequent as one gets older.
Sleep-related eating disorder:
You eat and drink when you’re half awake if you have this sleep problem. You might consume items or meal combos that you wouldn’t normally eat while awake, including slabs of butter or raw chicken. Eating poisonous or inedible food, consuming unhealthy amounts of food, or getting hurt while preparing or cooking food are all risks.
2. What is REM?
The three non-REM phases of the sleep cycle are followed by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Your breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure all rise while you are in REM sleep, and your eyes move quickly under your lids. This is the period of time when vivid dreams happen. Every 90 to 110 minutes, your body alternates between non-REM and REM sleep.
Later in the evening, insomnias occur. It is conceivable that you could remember some or all of the dreams if you were awakened during the incident. Parasomnias that happen during REM sleep include:
Nightmare disorder:
These are intense dreams that make you feel scared, terrified, or anxious. You might sense that your safety or survival is in danger. You could give a detailed account of your dream if you wake up during your nightmare, you frequently struggle to go back to sleep. Extreme exhaustion, experiencing a traumatic incident, being under stress, having a fever, or having consumed alcohol are all associated with an increased risk of developing nightmare disorder.
• Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis:
You are unable to move your limbs or body while you are sleeping if you have this sleep condition. Researchers believe that the paralysis may be the result of an extension of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, during which the muscles are already at rest. Either before you go to sleep or when you wake up, this occurs. Disturbing episodes, lasting a few minutes to seconds, typically induce panic or worry. If your bedmate touches or speaks to you, you can break free from sleep paralysis.
• REM sleep behavior disorder (RSBD):
When you have this type of sleep disturbance, you react violently to violent dreams by acting out, vocalizing (talking, swearing, laughing, shouting), or making aggressive motions (punching, kicking, grasping). The prevalence of this sleep problem is higher in older persons. Numerous patients with this illness suffer from neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, or stroke.
What signs and symptoms accompany insomnia?
- Parasomnias vary widely in their features and triggers. Still, a few of the most typical symptoms are as follows:
- Unable to stay asleep through the night.
- Waking up bewildered or lost.
- Experiencing daytime fatigue.
- Discovering bruises and cuts on your body for which you are unable to recall the reason.
- Exhibiting, as described to you by your bed partner, actions, vocalizations, gestures, or expressions that you cannot recall.
How are sleep disorders identified?
You and your sleeping companion will be questioned by your sleep medicine professional regarding your symptoms. Inquiries regarding your past medical history, family history, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse will also be made. They’ll question you about the drugs you’re taking now. Both you and your bed companion can be asked to record the events that occur during your sleep in a sleep diary.
Additional tests for sleep problems consist of:
- A polysomnogram, or sleep study, is a type of sleep lab where you are watched as you sleep. While you sleep, your breathing, heart rate, eye movements, and brain waves will be monitored. Your behavior and movements will be captured on video. Even while certain sleep studies can be completed at home, if Parasomnia is suspected, an in-lab study is advised.
- An electroencephalogram (EEG) or sleep EEG is a test that your doctor does to see and record the activity in your brain during a brain event.
- To identify brain degeneration or other potential neurologic explanations of your symptoms, get a neurologic exam, CT, or MRI scan.
Is parasomnia preventable?
Certain causes of parasomnias, like those brought on by neurological conditions, mental health disorders, or genetics, are less likely to be avoided; however, other reasons can be avoided by using some of the management strategies covered in this article. These include restricting alcohol and recreational drug usage, maintaining a regular bedtime and wake-up time, and obtaining seven to nine hours of sleep each night. (For more advice, refer to the therapy section.) Request that your doctor evaluate the medications you are taking at the moment. Numerous can interfere with sleep. If so, it might be possible to prescribe alternate medications.
Handling Parasomnias
Regardless of whether you have been diagnosed with non-REM or REM sleep Parasomnia, general coping strategies can help you live a better, more fulfilling life. Some excellent quick tips are:
- Develop healthy sleeping patterns. Two great habits to get into include not using blue-light-emitting technology just before bed and getting adequate rest each night.
- Eliminate bad habits: Reduce or give up alcohol and caffeine intake.
- Establish a sleep routine: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. The quality of your sleep will increase if you follow a regular sleep pattern.
- Keep your stress levels down: Excessive stress has been related to several Parasomnia. Managing your stress levels will aid in the management of your Parasomnia symptoms.
In the areas of sleep medicine education, research, and patient care, AASM establishes standards and encourages excellence., as well as between the stages of rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. Although children are more often than adults to have insomnia, reports of these behaviors have been made for a variety of age groups.
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