Sleep/Wakefulness Disorders
Sleep/Wakefulness Disorders ( 40 Questions)
A client is discussing their sleep patterns with a nurse during an assessment. The client mentions that they frequently wake up during the night and have difficulty falling back asleep. The client also reports snoring loudly and occasionally waking up gasping for air. These symptoms are most indicative of which type of sleep disorder?
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep, often resulting in daytime impairments. The symptoms mentioned in the question, such as snoring loudly and waking up gasping for air, are more indicative of sleep apnea rather than insomnia. Insomnia does not typically involve loud snoring or gasping for air.
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that involves excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep (called cataplexy), and disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle. While the client in the question reports waking up gasping for air and loud snoring, these symptoms are not characteristic of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy symptoms are more related to sudden sleep attacks and disruptions in REM sleep.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by an uncomfortable sensation in the legs that leads to an irresistible urge to move them, often occurring at rest and during the evening or nighttime. It can disrupt sleep due to the need to move the legs, but it does not typically cause loud snoring or waking up gasping for air. RLS is more associated with uncomfortable sensations in the legs rather than breathing-related symptoms.
Sleep apnea involves repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep and symptoms such as loud snoring, gasping for air, and excessive daytime sleepiness. The client's symptoms of snoring loudly and waking up gasping for air are characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway becomes blocked or collapses during sleep, leading to temporary pauses in breathing.
Choice A rationale:
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep, often resulting in daytime impairments. The symptoms mentioned in the question, such as snoring loudly and waking up gasping for air, are more indicative of sleep apnea rather than insomnia. Insomnia does not typically involve loud snoring or gasping for air.
Choice B rationale:
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that involves excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep (called cataplexy), and disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle. While the client in the question reports waking up gasping for air and loud snoring, these symptoms are not characteristic of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy symptoms are more related to sudden sleep attacks and disruptions in REM sleep.
Choice C rationale:
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by an uncomfortable sensation in the legs that leads to an irresistible urge to move them, often occurring at rest and during the evening or nighttime. It can disrupt sleep due to the need to move the legs, but it does not typically cause loud snoring or waking up gasping for air. RLS is more associated with uncomfortable sensations in the legs rather than breathing-related symptoms.
Choice D rationale:
Sleep apnea involves repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep and symptoms such as loud snoring, gasping for air, and excessive daytime sleepiness. The client's symptoms of snoring loudly and waking up gasping for air are characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway becomes blocked or collapses during sleep, leading to temporary pauses in breathing.