Eyes Tight Shut

What is sleep?
IN scientific terms, sleep signifies a change in the voltage activity of the brain. As brain activity slows down, the body experiences drowsiness, which progresses to deep and then very deep slumber. Sleep is induced by some neurotransmitters, the most important being melatonin, acetylcholine and tryptophenl.

That sounds simple…
BUT it isn’t really. An adult’s sleep through a night can be divided into two types: 25 per cent of it comes under Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, while the rest is Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. A new born baby, on the other hand, will have 50 per cent REM and 50 per cent NREM sleep. During REM, the mind works normally and dreams can be remembered. NREM covers the stage from drowsiness to deep slumber.

Is sleep really essential?
Sleep is a pre-requisite for mental fitness and productivity. How much, is a factor decided by the demands on your day. ‘‘For long sleepers, a good six-hour spell is enough, while short sleepers need at least nine-ten hours everyday. A little less sleep results in fatigue and affects bowel movement,’’ says Parikh.

What are sleep disorders?
SOME sleep disorders are either neurological, anxiety-induced or have no reason at all. But intrinsic sleep disorders develop from within the body for purely physiological reasons.

• Insomnia is the commonest manifestation of ISD. It involves difficulty falling asleep, maintaining sleep and waking up early.
• Hypersomnia is about excess sleep.
• Parasomnia involves the unusual phenomenon of waking up and going to sleep.

What about sleep apnea?
OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea is also an ISD, relating to the ‘‘cessation of breath’’. It is characterised by repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep. It is caused by the presence of excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, a large tongue. The symptoms include excessive daytime sleep and frequent episodes of obstructed breathing. Sleep apnea needs immediate medical attention. The risk of heart attacks, strokes, irregular heart beat and high blood pressure rise with undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.

How is sleep apnea treated?
FOR all its potential impact, sleep apnea can be treated by behavioural changes like losing weight, sleeping on the sides and refraining from alcohol.

What is snoring?
THE unusual sounds made by certain people while asleep is not always something to joke about — snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. A snore results when an intaken breath triggers vibration of the soft palate and the uvula. All snorers have incomplete obstruction of the upper airway and many habitual snorers have complete episodes of obstruction of the upper airway for periods of time, usually 10 seconds or longer.