SLEEP APNEA: A SLEEP DISORDER

Sleep Apnea: A Sleep Disorder

Sleep Apnea: A Sleep Disorder that Crosses All Ages

Abstract

One-third of our lives is spent laying around in a darkened room with eyes closed. Some are fortunate enough to go about this regular activity every day. However, there are some in this world that aren't as fortunate and instead lay awake night after night, maybe even have terrifying nightmares or even stop breathing all together in this process. This process we know as sleep. This paper will not only define sleep as a whole, but more importantly, it will describe many different sleep disorders crosses all ages around the world suffer from. As well as their causes, and any known treatments.

Introduction

Sleep and Its Disorders

In order for us to thoroughly examine and understand the disorders, causes and treatments of sleep, we must first have a basic understand of the ins and outs of sleep itself. Questions that run through our mind as we ponders the subject of sleep; What does the mind do while engaging in such an activity? Why do we sleep? Can our bodies handle deprivation of sleep, and if so for how long? Are there any side effects? Is it truly necessary to waste 1/3 of our lives sleeping? The most important question of all before we begin our research...how do we sleep?

Literature Review

During the night that one is asleep, the sleeper cycles through 4 or 5 periods of emergence. This is when the sleeper changes from Stage 2, 3 or 4 to a stage that is similar to stage one. Having small amounts of slow (8-10 cycles) waves. These periods can be described as the two major states of sleep that the human body will go through in one night. After the body has been asleep for anywhere between 60 minutes to 90 minutes, the brain briefly passes into the REM (rapid-eye movement) state of sleep. What is extraordinary about REM sleep is that if a scientist or psychologist were to examine the EEG of a person in REM sleep, it would be proper to state that the brain activity is that of a waking level (Webb, 1975).

However, if the scientist of psychologist were to physically examine the sleeper. They would report that the sleeper is not awake, but instead in a very deep stage of sleep. Desynchronized or dreaming sleep, or paradoxical or active sleep, because the brain is active even if the sleeper is not aware of it. During D-sleep, blood pressure rises and pulse and respiration increase and become irregular. The sleepers' body is totally immobile; one would even go as far as to suggest it is paralysed. All movements or bursts of activity during periods of REM sleep are called phasic activity. If the sleeper is not in the REM state of sleep, then we can safely assume that he is in the NREM (non rapid-eye movement) state of sleep. Also referred to as S-sleep or synchronized sleep, orthodox or quiet ...