Parasomnias are a category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal and unnatural
movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams that occur while
falling asleep, sleeping, between sleep stages, or during arousal from sleep.
Most parasomnias are dissociated sleep states which are partial arousals during
the transitions between wakefulness and REM sleep.
Nightmares
Nightmares are vivid nighttime events that can
cause feelings of fear, terror, and/or anxiety. Usually, the
person having a nightmare is abruptly awakened from REM sleep and is able to
describe detailed dream content. Returning to sleep is usually difficult.
Nightmares can be caused by many factors, including illness, anxiety, the loss
of a loved one, or negative reactions to a medication.
Night Terrors
A person experiencing a night terror abruptly
awakes from sleep in a terrified state, but is confused and unable to
communicate. They do not respond to voices and are difficult to fully awaken.
Night terrors last about 15 minutes, after which time the person usually lies
down and appears to fall back asleep. People who have night terrors (sometimes
called sleep terrors) usually don't remember the events the next morning. Night
terrors are similar to nightmares, but usually occur during deep sleep.
People experiencing sleep terrors may pose
dangers to themselves or others because of limb movements. Night terrors are
fairly common in children, mostly between the ages of 3 and 5. Children with
sleep terrors will often also talk in their sleep or sleepwalk. This sleep
disorder, also can occur in adults. Strong emotional tension and/or the use of
alcohol can increase the incidence of night terrors among adults.
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking occurs when a person appears to be
awake and moving around but is actually asleep. He or she has no memory of the
episode. Sleepwalking most often occurs during deep non-REM sleep (stages 3 and
4 sleep) early in the night and it can occur during REM sleep in the early
morning. This disorder is most commonly seen in children between the ages of 8
and 12; however, sleepwalking can occur among younger children, adults, and
seniors.
Contrary to what many people believe, it is not
dangerous to wake a person who is sleepwalking. The sleepwalker simply may be
confused or disoriented for a short time upon awakening. Although waking a
sleepwalker is not dangerous, sleepwalking itself can be dangerous, because the
person is unaware of his or her surroundings and can bump into objects or fall
down. In most children, it tends to stop as they enter the teen years.
Confusional Arousals
Confusional arousals usually occur when a person
is awakened from a deep sleep during the first part of the night. This
disorder, involves an exaggerated slowness upon awakening. People experiencing
confusional arousals react slowly to commands and may have trouble
understanding questions that they are asked. Also often have problems with
short-term memory; they have no memory of the arousal the following day.
Sleep Talking
Sleep talking is a sleep-wake transition
disorder. Although it usually is harmless, sleep talking can be disturbing to
sleep partners or family members who witness it. Talk that occurs during sleep
can be brief and involve simple sounds, or it can involve long speeches by the
sleeper. Sleep talking can be caused by external factors, including fever,
emotional stress, or other sleep disorders.
Nocturnal Leg Cramps
Nocturnal leg cramps are sudden, involuntary
contractions most commonly of the calf muscles during the night or periods of
rest. The cramping sensation may last from a few seconds to 10 minutes, but the
pain from the cramps may linger for a longer period. Nocturnal leg camps tend
to be found in middle-aged or older populations, but people of any age can have
them. Nocturnal leg cramps differ from restless legs syndrome, because the latter
usually does not involve cramping or pain. The cause of nocturnal leg cramps is
not known. Some cases of the disorder can occur without a triggering event,
while other causes of leg cramps may be linked to prolonged sitting, dehydration,
an overexertion of the muscles, or structural disorders (such as flat feet).
Muscle-stretching, exercise, and adequate water intake may help prevent leg
cramps.
Sleep Paralysis
People with sleep paralysis are not able to move
their body or limbs either when falling asleep or waking up. Brief episodes of
partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis can occur during sleep paralysis.
Sometimes sleep paralysis runs in families, but the cause of sleep paralysis is
not known. This disorder is not harmful, but people experiencing sleep
paralysis often are fearful, because they do not know what is happening. An
episode of sleep paralysis often is terminated by sound or touch. Within
minutes, the person with sleep paralysis is able to move again. It may occur only
once in your lifetime or can be a recurrent phenomenon.
Irregular Heart Rhythms
A cardiac arrhythmia -- the medical term for an
irregular heart rhythm -- is a change from the normal rate or control of the
heart's contractions. People who have coronary artery disease and whose blood
oxygen is lowered by sleep-disordered breathing may be at risk for arrhythmias,
which take place during REM sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
treatment may reduce this risk.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD)
People with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
behavior disorder act out dramatic and/or violent dreams during REM sleep. REM
sleep usually involves a state of sleep paralysis (atonia), but people with
this condition move the body or limbs while dreaming. Usually, RBD occurs in
men aged 50 and older, but the disorder also can occur in women and in younger
people. It differs from sleepwalking and sleep terrors, in that the sleeper can
be easily awakened and can recall vivid details of the dream. In the diagnosis
and treatment of RBD, potentially serious neurological disorders must be ruled
out. Polysomnography (sleep tests) and drug treatments also
can be involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.
Sleep Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
Sleep bruxism -- or teeth grinding -- involves
the involuntary, unconscious, excessive grinding or clenching of teeth during
sleep. It may occur along with other sleep disorders. Sleep bruxism may lead to
problems, including abnormal wear of the teeth and jaw muscle discomfort. The
severity of bruxism can range from mild to severe enough to cause dental
injury. In some cases, grinding can be prevented with the use of a mouth guard.
The mouth guard, supplied by a dentist, can fit over the teeth to prevent them
from grinding against each other.
Sleep Enuresis (Bedwetting)
In this condition, the affected person is unable
to maintain urinary control when asleep. There are two kinds of enuresis --
primary and secondary. In primary enuresis, a person has been unable to have
urinary control from infancy onward. Primary bedwetting appears to run in
families. Children are more likely to have it if their parents or siblings had
it as children. In secondary enuresis, a person has a relapse after previously
having been able to have urinary control. Enuresis can be caused by medical
conditions (for example, diabetes, urinary tract infections, and sleep apnea)
or by psychiatric disorders. Some treatments for bedwetting include behavior
modification, alarm devices, and medications.
Nocturnal Paroxysmal Dystonia (NPD)
This disorder is sometimes marked by
seizure-like episodes during non-REM sleep. Most evidence points to NPD being a
form of epilepsy. Episodes of NPD typically recur several times per night.
and we recommend to check your Doctor if you have any sleep disorders.
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