Sleep is one of the body’s most mysterious processes. REM sleep is the part of sleep when there are rapid eye movements (REM). Dreams occur during REM sleep. We normally have 3 to 5 periods of REM sleep per night. They occur at intervals of 1-2 hours and are quite variable in length. An episode of REM sleep may last 5 minutes or over an hour. About 20% of sleep is REM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, perhaps an hour and half of that time, 90 minutes, is REM sleep.
REM sleep is characterized by a number of other features including rapid, low-voltage brain waves
detectable on the electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, irregular breathing and heart rate and involuntary muscle jerks.
During REM sleep, you dream actively, but your limb muscles are immobile. Your breathing is rapid, irregular, and shallow. Your heart rate increases, your blood pressure rises, males may have penile erections, and females may have clitoral enlargement. Your brain is at least as active during REM sleep as it is when you are awake.
Infants spend about 50 per cent of their sleep time in REM sleep; after infancy, you spend fifteen to twenty per cent of your sleep time in REM sleep.
REM Sleep Disorder Causes
The exact cause of REM sleep behavior disorder is unknown, although the disorder may occur in association with various degenerative neurological conditions such as Parkinson disease, multisystem atrophy, diffuse Lewy body dementia, and Shy-Drager syndrome. In 55% of persons the cause is unknown, and in 45%, the cause is associated with alcohol or sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, tricyclic antidepressant (such as imipramine), or serotonin reuptake inhibitor use (such as fluoxetine, sertraline, or paroxetine) or other types of antidepressants (mirtazapine).
Another characteristic of REM disorders is the occurrence of intense and violent dreams. Because a person who suffers from REM sleep behavior disorder acts out his dreams, he can be a danger to both himself and his bed partners.
People with REM sleep disorders may perform any of the following acts while sleeping:
- flailing
- grabbing
- jumping or falling out of bed
- punching and kicking
- sitting up in bed
- talking
- thrashing
- yelling and/or screaming.
What are some REM-related symptoms?
The main symptom of REM sleep behavior disorder is dream-enacting behaviors, sometimes violent,
causing self-injury or injury to the bed partner.
The dream-enacting behaviors are usually nondirected and may include punching, kicking, leaping, or jumping from bed while still asleep.
The person may be awakened or may wake spontaneously during the attack and vividly recall the dream that corresponds to the physical activity.
Treatments:
The good news is that sleep disorder sufferers have a wide range of solutions, ranging from CPAP machines for sleep apnea treatment to simple behavioral changes that can work as a sleep aid. Some sleep problem treatments include:
Treat the underlying cause – If your sleep deprivation is caused by a physical or mental illness, treating the underlying problem will allow you to sleep naturally once again.
Change habits – Even people with a serious sleep disorder can make lifestyle changes to help the problem.
These include:
- Cutting out drinking, caffeine, and smoking
- Pursuing meditation and other relaxation techniques
- Weight loss
- Exercise
- Set a schedule
- Wake to sunshine – some sunshine on your face in the mornings helps to set your body’s sleep rhythm
Use a sleep aid – A comfortable environment makes sleeping significantly easier. Finding a sleep aid that works for you could eliminate your sleep problem. For example
- A comfortable pillow or mattress
- Warmth – take a bath shortly before going to bed, drink a cup of hot milk, or warm your bed with a heating pad.
- Sleep mask – block disturbing light by using a comfortable sleep mask.
Surgery – Surgery can be used to treat some sleep disorders. For example, it can be used as a sleep apnea treatment or to eliminate snoring.
Sleep medication – Depending on your type of sleep problem, sleep medication could be an option. For example:
- Antidepressants for narcolepsy
- Sleep medication for Restless Leg Syndrome
- Sedatives – may be used in rare cases to alleviate short-term sleeplessness
Documentation sources:
http://www.insomnia-connection.com/
Good post… Good writings on REM