What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common, serious, and potentially life-threatening sleep disorder. It is characterized by frequent episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep. This results in intermittent hypoxemia (low level of oxygen in the blood) and arousal. Here, the throat muscles relax at irregular intervals […]
Caffeine and Sleep Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, which is widely used for its psychoactive effects. It is commonly used to alleviate behavioral, cognitive, and emotional deficits caused by sleep deprivation. Regardless of its beneficial effects, caffeine may have adverse sleep-related consequences that might lead to sleep disruption and insomnia symptoms. This is […]
What is Insomnia? Insomnia (also known as sleeplessness) is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep at night, resulting in tired or unrefreshing sleep. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), insomnia is the most common sleeping disorder. Approximately 30% to 40% of adults in the […]
What is Sleep Fragmentation? Sleep fragmentation is one of the symptoms of sleep disorders characterized by repeated, short sleep interruptions during the night, which leads to excessive tiredness during the day. People with fragmented sleep tend to fall asleep quickly but wake up multiple times during the night for short periods. The other symptoms of […]
What is Excessive daytime sleepiness? Excessive daytime sleepiness (also known as hypersomnia) refers to the inability to stay awake and alert during the normal waking hours that results in unexpected lapses of sleep or drowsiness. It can even occur after long stretches of sleep. There are two types of hypersomnia; primary and secondary. Primary hypersomnia […]
What is Narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that is characterized by five symptoms: 1. Excessive daytime sleepiness 2. Cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness that occurs without any 'warning') 3. Sleep paralysis (a state of awareness with an inability to speak or move - usually occurs during waking up or falling asleep) 4. Hypnagogic hallucinations (vivid […]
Why Does Sleep Efficiency Matter? Sleep efficiency refers to the percentage of time a person sleeps to the amount of time a person spends in bed. It is calculated by the ratio of the total time spent asleep (TST) in a night compared to the total amount of time spent in bed. An efficient sleep […]
Sleep Latency: How Long Does It Take You to Fall Asleep? Sleep latency (also known as sleep onset latency) refers to the amount of time it takes for a person to fall asleep. Usually, normal sleep latency is 5-15 minutes. If sleep latency is less than five minutes, it may suggest some level of excessive […]
What is Restless Leg Syndrome? Restless Leg Syndrome (also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease) is a neurologic and sleep-related movement disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move in the legs, which typically occurs or worsens at rest. Affected people may experience abnormal, uncomfortable sensations ( paresthesia or dysesthesias ) that are often linked to cramping, […]
