The M and N’s of Sleep – More Words Associated with Sleep
There are many words we hear every day but are unsure of their actual meaning. These are more words that are often used in articles and blogs related to sleeping, snoring and sleep disorders.
Mandibular Maxillary Osteotomy and Advancement
A procedure for a sleep disorder or snoring that was developed for patients who did not respond to the CPAP or the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) procedure.
Micro-Arousal
A scenario when a sleeper partially awakens but is unaware of it.
Micro-Sleep
A period of up to a few seconds when a person appears to be asleep during a waking period. It is cause for alarm if it occurs with a person who is a pilot or a truck driver and they literally “nod off.”
Middle Insomnia
Also known as Sleep Maintenance Insomnia, it is when you wake up during the night and are unable to fall back to sleep immediately.
Mixed Sleep Apnea
An interruption in breathing while asleep that starts as central apnea and ends with an obstructive apnea.
Motor Atonia
This refers to the absence of any muscle activity during sleep.
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)
This is a series of sleep tests are given to diagnose sleep disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness. They are usually given at sleep labs.
Nap
A short period of sleep that is often planned separate from normal sleep time.
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder with symptoms that include brief periods of deep sleep and overwhelming daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms include cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnogogic hallucinations and a tendency to go from wakefulness into deep sleep.
Nightmare
A frightening or scary dream that occurs in REM sleep and is often recalled when you awaken.
Night Terrors
This is also known as pavor nocturnus or sleep terrors and is characterized by being not fully awake and experiencing intense agitation or fear. It is often experienced by children. There is usually no remembrance of what caused the fear.
Nocturia
The term that refers to frequent and excessive urination during the night.
Nocturnal Confusion
This refers to episodes of disorientation or delirium at bedtime or during the night. It is often found in elderly people or those with Alzheimer’s.
Nocturnal Enuresis
This term refers to bedwetting or urinating during sleep.
Nocturnal Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (NS-RED)
This refers to someone that gets up during the night and eats something but has no memory of it when they awaken in the morning.
Non-REM Sleep (NREM)
This is 75 – 80% of your sleep time that is characterized by slower and larger brain waves where there are few or no dreams so you are quietly asleep or sleeping peacefully.
