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Sleep apnea and parasomnias

6 important questions on Sleep apnea and parasomnias

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep (interrupted breathing between 10-60 seconds, >5 per hour). Loud snoring is one of the most telling features

Predispositional factors for sleep terror in adults

1. history of NREM sleep parasomnias or sleep apnea
2. stress
3. mental disorder and some mediation

REM sleep behaviour disorder

- Loss of REM sleep atonia
- kicking, punching, leaping from bed (injury dreamer/partner)
- usually once a night during REM
(always in men)

Rx = CLONAZEPAM (A BENZODIAZEPINE)

REcurrent isolated sleep paralysis

period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset or awakening. Is short lastening (2 minutes) and can be frightening

Exploding head syndrome

a loud noise is imagined just before falling asleep or upon awakening. Cause is unkonwn, but unlikely to be related to headache syndromes

Sleep related eating disorder (SRED)

episodes occur following arousal during NREM. Develops later in life, but patients typically have a history of other parasomnias. Consequences : risk of injury to self or others, obesity and depression

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Sleep & Arousal

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