SLEEP TERROR Meaning and
Definition
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Sleep terror, also known as night terror, is a parasomnia sleep disorder that primarily affects children, but can also occur in adults. It is characterized by sudden episodes of intense fear, often accompanied by screaming, thrashing, and frantic behavior during sleep. These episodes usually last for a few minutes, but can extend up to half an hour.
Sleep terrors occur during deep non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and typically happen within 1 to 4 hours after falling asleep. Unlike nightmares, individuals experiencing sleep terrors are often unable to recall the terrifying episode upon waking. Sleep terrors may cause rapid breathing, increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and excessive sweating.
The exact cause of sleep terrors is not fully understood, but several factors may contribute. These include genetic predisposition, lack of sleep or irregular sleep patterns, heightened emotional stress, and certain medical conditions, such as fever, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or migraine.
Sleep terrors generally do not require medical treatment, unless frequent and severe episodes significantly disrupt one's quality of life or cause safety concerns. However, creating a calm and safe sleep environment, maintaining consistent sleep schedules, and managing stress levels may help reduce the occurrence and severity of sleep terrors. In severe cases, certain medications or therapies may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms and provide relief. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and guidance.
Common Misspellings for SLEEP TERROR
- aleep terror
- zleep terror
- xleep terror
- dleep terror
- eleep terror
- wleep terror
- skeep terror
- speep terror
- soeep terror
- slwep terror
- slsep terror
- sldep terror
- slrep terror
- sl4ep terror
- sl3ep terror
- slewp terror
- slesp terror
- sledp terror
- slerp terror
- sle4p terror
Etymology of SLEEP TERROR
The word "Sleep Terror" is derived from two separate terms: "sleep" and "terror". Here is the etymology of each individual word:
1. Sleep: The word "sleep" has its roots in Old English "slæpan" and Middle English "slepe". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "slēpaną" and the Proto-Indo-European root *"sleb-", meaning "to be weak, to be weary".
2. Terror: The word "terror" originates from the Latin term "terrere", which means "to frighten" or "to terrify". Its earliest known usage was in the 14th century, borrowed from Old French "tereur", which was derived from the Latin root.
When combined, "sleep" and "terror" form the term "Sleep Terror", which refers to a disorder also known as "night terror".
