Sleep disorder

Sleep disorder

The disturbance of normal sleep patterns caused by a broad range of illnesses, including dysfunctional sleep mechanisms, abnormalities in physiological functions during sleep, abnormalities of the biological clock, and sleep disturbances that are induced by factors extrinsic to the sleep process.

Industry: Health care

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Sleep disorder

altitude insomnia

Health care; Sleep disorder

Insomnia that occurs when people go to higher altitudes. Usually accompanied by headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Twenty-five percent of individuals who go from sea level to 2,000 meters will ...

chronotherapy

Health care; Sleep disorder

Light therapy. Use of bright light to affect a change in sleep patterns. Chronotherapy advocates claim it affects the same brain chemicals that antidepressant drugs do, with the advantages of being ...

hypnotics

Health care; Sleep disorder

Medications that cause sleep or partial loss of consciousness. They include benzodiazepines and imidazopyridines.

cytokines

Health care; Sleep disorder

Molecules that regulate the functioning of the immune system.

diagnostic sleep study

Health care; Sleep disorder

Monitoring of several physiological activities. Usually performed to determine the absence or presence of a specific sleep disorder. The sleep study can occur in a sleep disorders center or in a ...

ultradian rhythm

Health care; Sleep disorder

Natural bodily rhythms that occur at intervals of less than 24 hours. Ultradian rhythms are recurrent periods or cycles repeated throughout a 24-hour circadian day.