![]() ![]() The pituitary gland releases growth hormone that stimulates tissue and muscle repair. ![]() Deep sleep is when your body renews and repairs itself. During deep sleep, your breathing slows down and becomes more regular.īlood pressure and pulse decrease to about 20% to 30% below waking rates. EEG depicts deep delta waves sometimes referred to as slow wave sleep (SWS). EEG depicts sleep spindles and K complexes (Figure 1). Fifty percent of your sleep at night is spent in N2. In N2 sleep, which lasts 10 to 25 minutes, heart rate and breathing slow down. The eyes move slowly from side to side and one can easily awaken. The reading on an electroencephalogram (EEG) depicts theta waves that are spread apart (Figure 1).Ĭredit: Epstein, L., & Mardon S., The Harvard Medical School Guide to a good night's sleep, New York: McGraw Hill, 2007.īody temperature decreases and muscles become relaxed. Approximately 5 minutes is spent on making the transition from wakefulness to light sleep, which is called N1 sleep. N sleep is also known as quiet sleep and can be further classified as stages N1, N2, and N3.ĭuring N sleep, thinking and physiological activities slow down. Researchers have studied the brain and have classified sleep into 2 types: non-rapid eye movement (N) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This hormone regulates circadian rhythms, which are the 24-hour physiologic patterns of sleep and wakefulness. What happens in the brain when we sleep? Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, peaks in the late evening in response to changes in light and darkness. 3 These cases report difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, waking up too early, and, in some cases, non-restorative or poor quality sleep. 2 Globally, samples from different countries indicate a prevalence rate of insomnia of about 30% to 40% in the general population. One of the goals of Healthy People 2030 includes increasing the number of adults and young adults who get enough sleep. Americans spend an estimated $2 billion every year on sleep medications. The National Sleep Foundation Survey in the United States found that 75% of US adults have at least 1 symptom of a sleep disorder and 54% have 1 symptom of insomnia. Research on chemicals and receptors in the brain and their effects on sleep continue to be an area of growth in the development of new drugs for sleep disorders. Specific antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and atypical antipsychotics are used off label to manage insomnia. Benzodiazepines, Z drugs, melatonin receptor agonists, and orexin receptor antagonists are used in treating insomnia. ![]() Presently there are several prescription drug classes that can be used to increase sleep latency and/or sleep duration. Pharmacists also provide drug information to prescribers and guide appropriate prescription drug use. Pharmacists play a role in providing consumers with recommendations on OTC and herbal remedies to manage insomnia. If left untreated, sleep disorders such as insomnia can lead to other health problems. Sleep is a vital component for the human body. ![]()
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