How does one become a sleep disorder technician?

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I am not even completely sure this is the proper title...
However, I would like to know the proper titles for people who study sleep disorders, including Doctors and I would like to know what sort of requirements are nec. for that.

Thanks!
"sleep doctors" generally aren't from one specific field or one another. Some are ENT specialists, some are Neurologists (such as myself). There is no specific title for 'sleep docs' though. The field itself is called "Sleep Medicine"
To be a technician, generally you are taught on the job. If you have experience in the healthcare field, you are more likely to be hired, but some places even hire with no experience whatsoever. You must have a good bedside manner and be patient, understanding of patients, as you will be watching them as they sleep.
You should be willing to learn a lot, and lean how to communicate with patients.
Hope this helps!  (+ info)

What happens to your mind/body during REM sleep?

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I know that REM stands for rapid eye movement and that REM sleep is a deep, dream-filled sleep. But what else? When does REM sleep begin? What happens to your mind/body during this sleep cycle? What happens if it is interrupted?
What Is REM Sleep?
Usually, REM sleep occurs 90 minutes after sleep onset. The first period of REM typically lasts 10 minutes, with each recurring REM stage lengthening, and the final one may last up to an hour. Polysomnograms show brainwave patterns in REM to be similar to that recorded during wakefulness. In people without sleep disorders, heart rate and respiration speed up and become erratic during REM sleep. During this stage the eyes move rapidly in different directions.


What Happens During Sleep?
Sleep is prompted by natural cycles of activity in the brain and consists of two basic states: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, which consists of Stages 1 through 4.

During sleep, the body cycles between non-REM and REM sleep. Typically, people begin the sleep cycle with a period of non-REM sleep followed by a very short period of REM sleep. Dreams generally occur in the REM stage of sleep. Then the cycle repeats all over again.


During the deep stages of NREM sleep, the body repairs and regenerates tissues, builds bone and muscle, and appears to strengthen the immune system. As you get older, you sleep more lightly and get less deep sleep. Aging is also associated with shorter time spans of sleep, although studies show the amount of sleep needed doesn't appear to diminish with age


Intense dreaming occurs during REM sleep as a result of heightened brain activity, but paralysis occurs simultaneously in the major voluntary muscle groups. REM is a mixture of encephalic (brain) states of excitement and muscular immobility. For this reason, it is sometimes called paradoxical sleep.


The percentage of REM sleep is highest during infancy and early childhood. During adolescence and young adulthood, the percentage of REM sleep declines. Infants can spend up to 50% of their sleep in the REM stage of sleep, whereas adults spend only about 20% in REM.


Most dreaming takes place during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Periodic eyelid fluttering, muscle paralysis, and irregular breathing, body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure distinguish REM from non-REM sleep stages. REM sleep is also called "paradoxical" sleep because brain wave activity is similar to an awakened state. It is during REM sleep that the brain blocks signals to the muscles to remain immobile so dreams will not be acted out. Adults spend about 20 - 25% of their sleep cycle in REM sleep.


The EEG activity during REM sleep shows mixed frequency and low voltage with occasional bursts of "sawtooth" waves. Compare this EEG pattern with the wakefulness pattern


How Much Sleep Do You Need?
The amount of sleep a person needs depends on the individual. The need for sleep depends on various factors, one of which is age. Infants usually require about 16-18 hours of sleep per day, while teenagers need about 9 hours per day on average. Most adults need about 7-8 hours of sleep per day.


The amount of sleep a person needs also increases if he or she has been deprived of sleep. People do not seem to adapt to getting less sleep than they need.

What Are the Consequences of Too Little Sleep?

Too little sleep may cause:

Impaired memory and thought processes.
Depression.
Decreased immune response.
Sleep deprivation also magnifies alcohols effects on the body, so a fatigued person who drinks will become much more impaired than someone who is well-rested. Sleep deprivation also increases pain perception on pain simulation testing. Caffeine and other stimulants can temporarily overcome the effects of severe sleep deprivation, but cannot do so for extended periods of time.


When you sleep, your body rests and restores its energy levels. However, sleep is an active state that affects both your physical and mental well-being. A good night's sleep is often the best way to help you cope with stress, solve problems, or recover from illness.


So constant interrruption of REM sleep sleep or QUALITY sleep will result in daytime fatigue; premature aging, stress and a depressed immune system.; can make one cranky, irritable and have headaches and difficulty in concentration.  (+ info)

How can I "cure" my sleep texing disorder?

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I suffer from "some" sort of sleeping disorder in which I sleep Tex,and Facebook.I send inappropriate rude messages to people for no reason with no knowledge in the morning. Not only that, I hide my phone from myself and cant find it for days sometimes.What can I do to help this? Will this disorder affect me from becoming a police officer in the near future?
  (+ info)

What determines whether or not you have a sleep disorder?

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Are sleep disorders things like sleep apnea and insomnia? I mean i am having trouble sleeping at night. Sometimes i dont sleep until 3 am or 6 am and then i only get like 3 hours sleep if that. Other nights i sleep for 11 hours or more. I know its all about setting your body clock but i have so much trouble actually GETTING to sleep in the first place. Its like i am sooo tired but just cant sleep no matter what. Its starting to get really frustrating..
I wish knew... It's 2:45 a.m. and I'm up and on Yahoo, so I obviously don't have the answer.

For me I don't think it's a disorder, because I seem to sleep fine when my husband is home... he's just home on average of 3 weekends a month, however, since he mobilized with the military in 2003. At least he's not had to go back to Iraq... I didn't sleep them much at all!

I have a friend that using sleeping pills to try to get at least 8 hours uninterrupted sleep. It works for her.

Good Luck.  (+ info)

Does Sleep Paralysis have any deeper meaning then just waking up during the REM stage?

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I understand what sleep paralysis is. I just want to know if there are any other beliefs out there.
I have no answers for the "Science" part of it.

Depends on what dreams, nightmares may accompany your sleep paralysis.

Been there, made it through, with my faith because I know the truth.  (+ info)

Is it better to get rem sleep or not when waking up early the next morning?

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Some mornings i have to wake up early for work and i was curious if its better if i go to sleep earlier the night before or go to sleep later and not enter rem sleep?
You're going to enter REM sleep if you plan on sleeping for at least 90 minutes. There are 4 stages in one sleep cycle, and each cycle is about 90 minutes. After reaching the deepest sleep stage 4, the cycle starts moving backward towards stage 1. This is REM sleep, in which the sleeping person exhibits Rapid Eye Movements and reports vivid dreams. About 20-25% of your night's sleep is spent in REM sleep. If you're planning on sleeping for less than 90 minutes, I would recommend not sleeping at all because it will be very hard to wake up. Going to sleep earlier would definitely be best for you.  (+ info)

Is it possible for a sleep disorder to cause anxiety and depression?

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20 years old... I am having a sleep study at the end of the month and my doctor is pretty sure I have sleep Apnea, as I am tired all the time and snore really badly. But for the past 4-5 years Ive been experiencing really bad depression and anxiety. This past year has been the worse, as I moved to a new state and my anxiety has turned into what might be social anxiety. I feel nervous and paranoid around people. Always thinking they don't like me and that they are talking bad about me. Do you think the sleep apnea could have caused this, as I've had this sleep problem since I was a child.
When we are deprived of sleep, it can cause many different problems. It's good you are seeing about your sleep disorder, I think once they can solve that, you will most likely see your symptoms deminish.  (+ info)

What is the name of this sleep disorder?

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I can't remember the name of the sleeping disorder but the symptons are something like this.

Whilst still asleep, the patient 'wakes up' to discover that they are lying in bed unable to move and that someone or somebody is attempting to smother them. They eventually wake up properly.
sleep paralysis look it up for more info. Im a sufferer so i know good luck and god bless  (+ info)

What is the best way to induce REM sleep?

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Is there a way to improve my R.E.M. sleep? A certain position (on my back, on my side, etc), or any other tips? Thank you!
hey neil ..

I have been suffering from insomnia since about late october.. The sleep I did manage to get was poor quality and I was not getting the REM periods that i needed to .

I tried the homespun methods and for some people these methods work well .. Like warm milk with honey, no reading or watching TV in Bed, meditation and relaxation techiniques. I tried camomile teas

I tried a form of serapax BUT that is NOT a good idea as while it may induce a form of sleep , it is not the sleep with REM periods. AND WE NEED THOSE ..

So i took myself off to the Doctors and i decided to give acupuncture a try ... and KNOCK ON WOOD .. it seems to have done the trick .. I am falling asleep a lot easier and I am sleeping longer... and I am dreaming again .. which is a part of the rem cycle,

you may have luck with the other techniques i wrote of .. BUT if you don't why not try acupuncture .. I AM SO glad i did.  (+ info)

Can anyone give me advice on Bipolar Disorder and sleep?

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I have bipolar disorder and I haven't been able to sleep for five days now and my doctor didn't seem that concerned. He gave me ambien cr to sleep which didn't really work. I am affraid that I am having a manic episode and I don't have a mental health doctor at the time and I am not really sure what I should do.
Gosh. I HATE when doctors prescribe sleep medication for insomnia. I would stop taking the medication, it has long-term effect on the brain.

You should learn some techniques to help relax you. You can buy audio tracks, mp3s, or CDs made specifically for relaxation. You can find these online and possibly at the library.

Also, one technique that I give my patients is to only use your bed for SLEEPING. Don't sit on your bed and watch television (or lay down) - do that on a couch. Don't do homework on your bed - use a desk. Don't eat on your bed - eat at a table...ETC. This way, the BED will be used for sleeping, and your subconscious will associate BED with SLEEP. Next, start at the very bottom of your toes. Squeeze your toe muscles 3 times slowly. Next move up to your calves and squeeze 3 times slowly. Move up to your legs...and so on, until you reach the tip of your head. By this time, you should be very relaxed.

Best of luck!  (+ info)

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