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Ever found yourself nodding off while working at your computer? Jerking yourself awake while watching TV, or, worse, while driving home from work? If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing microsleep.
Similar to but distinct from narcolepsy, microsleep occurs when your body goes into a sudden and full sleep state for up to 15 seconds. And while it might not sound serious, but in the wrong circumstances microsleep can have disastrous consequences.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
An episode of microsleep is what happens when your brain goes into involuntary full sleep mode for a very short time, usually up to 15 seconds.
According to experts, microsleep is similar to, although not exactly the same as, the commonly known sleep condition of narcolepsy.
An episode of microsleep can involve quick head nods and/or forgetting where you are or what you are doing.
Pretty much any time that you fall asleep for a few seconds and then wake up abruptly can be considered an episode of microsleep.
Microsleep can be dangerous, since falling asleep for even a few seconds can have disastrous consequences, especially for those working in high-risk environments.
It is therefore important to understand the causes of microsleep, what it looks like, and what you can do to prevent it.
In deciding whether to diagnose you as a microsleep sufferer, your doctor will consider a combination of different factors.
These factors include your self-reported symptoms, symptoms reported by others, and objective data such as from EEG recordings.
They will also consider whether you may belong to a subset of the population that is at higher risk of developing a microsleep disorder.
Indeed, while microsleep can affect anyone and can have a negative impact on the sufferer’s life whoever they are, certain groups are more likely to be affected.
Firstly, microsleep is more likely to affect people who have another sleep disorder, such as insomnia, since they are more likely to struggle with sleep deprivation.
Indeed, one of the worst consequences of microsleep is a car crash, and research shows that shift workers are at the greatest risk of getting into one.
Age is another factor that increases the risk of microsleep. This is because as we age, our sleep becomes lighter and less efficient.
Older adults may struggle with microsleep if they are not sleeping well in general or they are taking medications that disrupt their sleep patterns.
It is important to remember, however, that microsleep can affect anyone, and that there are a number of different causes and triggers.
If you experience monotony (particularly low stimulation) or take certain medications this may increase your risk of microsleep.
This is because the body’s circadian rhythm is easily interrupted by stress hormones such as cortisol.
The symptoms of microsleep generally include small changes in behavior and processing. Sometimes these are noticeable to the individual, sometimes they are not.
The behavioral changes can include briefly closing your eyes, nodding your head, or quickly jerking your body. You may also notice that your eyes feel heavier or they move more slowly.
In terms of changes to the way you process information, you may feel like you spaced out or lost attention for a brief time.
This is because, during the period of microsleep, your brain does not process information in the same way that it does when you are awake.
If you experience an episode while you are driving, you may not remember a portion of the drive or you might miss an exit.
According to the experts, the best way to manage microsleep episodes is to prevent them. This means practicing good sleep hygiene, in particular getting enough sleep.
Sleep hygiene is different for everyone, but if you are looking to improve your sleep there are a number of variables that you can experiment with.
In particular you might experiment with your sleep routine, the room temperature, the level of darkness, or the use of a sound machine or fan.
This might involve requesting to have the same shift schedules for days, weeks, or months in a row. Remember that sleep deprivation can be a safety risk, particularly if your job is high risk.
Sources: (Verywell Mind)
See also: Age-specific tips for better sleep
What is microsleep, and why does it happen?
The silent killer of a sleep disorder
HEALTH Sleep disorders
Ever found yourself nodding off while working at your computer? Jerking yourself awake while watching TV, or, worse, while driving home from work? If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing microsleep.
Similar to but distinct from narcolepsy, microsleep occurs when your body goes into a sudden and full sleep state for up to 15 seconds. And while it might not sound serious, but in the wrong circumstances microsleep can have disastrous consequences.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.