What is ‘Night Terror’, the disease that wakes you up at night from screaming, how is it treated?
October 16, 2022
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Non-REM sleep is divided into deep and superficial sleep. It is very difficult to wake up in a deep non-REM sleep and people wake up from their sleep
Non-REM sleep is divided into deep and superficial sleep. It is very difficult to wake up in a deep non-REM sleep and people wake up from their sleep with fear. Night terror It occurs during deep non-REM sleep.
This disease, also called sleep terror, can occur at any age. This disease prevents you from sleeping soundly and belongs to the abnormal sleep disorders.
What is night terror?
More common in children sleep terror It is a disease that is sometimes seen in adults. Night terrors in deep sleep cause difficulties such as anxiety, rapid breathing, waking up screaming and crying.
This sleep disorder can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Sleep terror (parasomnia), which begins to subside after puberty, can also manifest as sleepwalking and sleep paralysis. Although nightmares are considered a terrifying illness because of its name, it is a sleep disorder that can be treated.
What are the causes of night terrors?
parasomnia Night terrors, also called nightmares, occur as unwanted behaviors during sleep. Although the exact causes are not known, this disease, which is based on certain causes, is believed to occur due to respiratory problems, psychological problems and other factors.
People with breathing problems have a higher incidence of sleep anxiety, and those who struggle to breathe during sleep are triggered by the disease. Night terrors can also occur in adults with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder.
What factors play a role in night terrors?
Anesthesia
Fatigue
antidepressants
Diseases with severe fever
Alcohol
Substance use
stress disorders
sleep apnea
Sleep disturbances
Now let’s look at the symptoms of nightmares:
The symptoms of sleep terror can differ depending on the character of the person. The person who has a seizure during sleep may suddenly wake up and remember everything, or they may not wake up and have to moan to continue sleeping.
Sleep terrors usually occur during deep sleep at night. When seen in children, although children usually don’t remember anything about this condition, adults can act more consciously. Night terrors also cause sleepwalking.
inability to wake up,
Waking up from a soggy sleep,
pupil dilation,
increase in heart rate,
breathing often,
Don’t wake up screaming
Don’t go to bed without remembering anything.
Punching and kicking around
may be listed as such. If you or your child has these symptoms, it is recommended that you be examined.
How is night terrors diagnosed?
Although it is difficult to diagnose this disease in adults, it is recommended to see a doctor if the person wakes up tired and sluggish. It is recommended that people who suffer from sleep terrors and other sleeping problems write down their dreams or sleep after waking up.
In this way, the doctor can more easily diagnose the disease. Drinking alcohol, working or being in a stressful environment, mental illness or breathing problems should also be explained in detail.
Can it be diagnosed with a sleep test?
This disease, which affects sleep quality, can sometimes be diagnosed in medical settings, such as a sleep lab. At the same time, this disease should be clearly distinguished from diseases such as epilepsy. Also for this sleep test should be done. EEG, EOG and EMG are used in this test. The patient’s blood and heart functions should also be monitored.
Because it is necessary to look at the different stages of sleep, the sleep process is divided into certain segments and examined in detail. If no epileptic seizures are found in these sleep periods, then night terrors can be diagnosed.
How are night terrors treated?
Sleep terror, which is less common in adulthood than in childhood, decreases with age. Exacerbations observed in childhood can be overcome without the need for supervised treatment. However, if the seizures that often interrupt the child’s sleep do not disappear in adulthood, the help of a therapist should be sought or sleep specialistmust be consulted.
We come across many problems and these problems can appear as mental illness. While the causes that present themselves as mental illnesses increase the attacks of sleep terror, the causes of this illness must be examined in detail and eliminated. Mental illnesses too therapeutic or with drug therapy is corrected.
Waking up the person having a seizure at the same time every day is also a temporary way to get night terrors. However, it is not correct to wake up people during the attack process. This distinction must be made well. It is also an important treatment method for people who have had a seizure to sleep during the day or to establish a fixed time to sleep.
Looking at drug treatment, this method is not much preferred to solve the problem of night terrors in childhood. In adult patients, the use of antidepressants can sometimes be an effective method. Although it is not used in every patient, drug treatment is also one of the preferred methods. If you experience such problems, we recommend that you consult a doctor as soon as possible.
I’m Maurice Knox, a professional news writer with a focus on science. I work for Div Bracket. My articles cover everything from the latest scientific breakthroughs to advances in technology and medicine. I have a passion for understanding the world around us and helping people stay informed about important developments in science and beyond.