Glossary of Basic Sleep Disorders Terminology
- Bruxism - Teeth grinding during sleep.
- Hypopnea – Slow or shallow breathing during sleep that lasts at least 10 seconds and is associated with a decrease in oxygenation.
- Insomnia – Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Narcolepsy – A condition characterized by severe daytime sleepiness that may be associated with occasional periods of weakness, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations while falling asleep.
- Obstructive sleep apnea – A prevalent disorder that is caused by periodic, repetitive airway collapse that results in poor quality sleep and may be associated with an increased risk for stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
- Parasomnia – Any abnormal behavior that arises out of sleep. Examples include sleep talking, sleep walking, and sleep eating.
- Periodic Limb Movement Disorder – A disorder characterized by involuntary, unconscious, repetitive and stereotyped movements of the legs during sleep.
- REM disorders – Abnormal, complex behaviors that arise out of REM sleep.
- REM sleep – The stage of sleep when most dreams occur.
- Shift Work – A work schedule that requires one to be awake when they would otherwise be sleeping.
- Snoring – Noise generated by the vibration of tissues in the upper airway.
- Sleep Deprivation – The conscious effort to sleep less than one normally does.
- Sleep Efficiency – The amount of time that is spent sleeping while one is in bed