REM Sleep Disorder vs REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM (Rapid Eye movement) sleep disorder is just another kind of sleep disorder in which the person is unable to sleep through the night. In simpler terms in case of REM sleep disorder, the person will never be able to complete a deep sleep state. REM sleep disorder is often confused with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in which the person becomes violent and restless during sleep.

REM sleep state is classified as the "active sleep" or the "deep sleep". Though most of us wouldn't have cared about it but sleep occurs in cycles. Isn't that sounds interesting?? A normal sleep is divided into two categories – REM and NON-REM (or NREM). For a layman, it will simply mean light sleep and deep sleep. The difference between the two being in terms of how easy it is to arouse someone from sleep. Having said so, understanding REM sleep disorder becomes easier.

REM sleep disorder occurs when the normal transition to and from the sleep states is disturbed. As mentioned earlier, REM is the state of deep sleep and it is in this state of the sleep the body revitalizes and rejuvenates itself. All the beautiful and also the scary ones occur during REM state of sleep. In this case the brain might be active but the body parts other than the eyes, lungs and heart are in a state of no-activity. REM sleep state is necessary for people as it acts as a mood regulator and brain stimulator. However, people with REM sleeping disorder are unable to reach this state and thereby they tend to be drowsy, irritated and tired during the daytime.

REM sleeping disorder is like "sleeping with your eyes open". During the entire stretch of sleep, a normal adult will enter the REM sleep state 4-5 times. Often the person remains unaware of this changing state and as soon as the cycle ends, he might get up from sleep and then turnaround to enter the next sleep cycle. However, persons suffering from REM sleeping disorder are normally aware of things going around them. They may get in between sleep and find it difficult to catch their slumber again.

Polysomnography tests can be done to detect the sleep states and the time spent in each of these REM and NREM states. It can be analyzed that REM normally occupies 20-25% of sleep time. A normal REM state lasts for about 90 minutes. However, in cases of elderly the sleep is dominated by the NREM state and the deep sleep decreases. Intake of caffeine, alcohol or anti-depressants, pain killers etc. before sleeping can lead to REM sleeping disorder.

For more information about REM sleeping disorder,please visit:

http://www.Sleepnet.com http://www.Sleepdisorderchannel.com http://holisticonline.com http://sleepfoundation.org.

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