Overview
Sleep disorders occur in some people with cancer and may be caused by physical
illness, pain, treatment drugs, being in the hospital, and emotional stress.
Sleep has two phases: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM). REM sleep,
also known as "dream sleep," is the phase of sleep in which the brain is
active. NREM is the quiet or restful phase of sleep. The stages of sleep
occur in a repeated pattern of NREM followed by REM. Each sleep cycle lasts
about 90 minutes and is repeated 4 to 6 times during a 7- to 8-hour sleep
period. The four major categories of sleep disorders that interfere with
normal sleep patterns include:
Back to Top
< Previous Section | Next Section > |