FUNDAMENTALS EXAM 3 STUDY
GUIDE WK. 5 & 6
WEEK 5:
Comfort, Rest & Sleep
Describe the functions, physiology, and stages of sleep.
o Functions of sleep:
Adequate sleep and rest promote optimal health and healing and helps
decrease cortisol production
Inadequate sleep can lead to…
Inability to concentrate, poor judgment, moodiness, irritability,
increased risk for accidents
It can also lead to potential health problems such as risks of obesity,
depression, hypertension, DM, heart attack, MI
o Physiology of sleep:
Two biological mechanisms encompass the process of sleep – the circadian
rhythm and sleep-wake homeostasis.
The circadian rhythm: an internal process that controls the sleep-
wake cycle, and reoccurs every 24 hours
o Regulates a person’s biological clock – causes sleepiness at
night and waking on own in the morning
o The body will sync with environmental cues such as light and
temperature; however, it will maintain the circadian rhythm
without any prompts.
Sleep-wake homeostasis: helps the body remember to sleep after a
given time.
o Regulates the amount and level of sleep that a person needs
according to the amount of sleep deprivation the person is
experiencing.
o Can be affected by factors such as the lighting in a room,
medications, caffeine, foods, sleep environment, and stress
o Stages of sleep: the stages of sleep are not liner, and the body will cycle through
them 4-6 times per night
o NREM: non-rapid eye movement (75-80% of sleep time)
o REM: rapid eye movement (20-25% of sleep time)
Stage 1 (NREM):
Very light sleep
Only a few minutes long (1-5 minutes)
Muscle relaxation occurs
Loss of awareness of surroundings
Breathing is normal; vital signs and metabolism begin to decrease
, Stage 2 (NREM):
Deeper sleep
10-20 minutes long; vital signs and metabolism continue to decrease
50% of the total sleep cycle
Increased relaxation and requires stimulation to awaken
Stage 3: (NREM)
The deepest sleep, also called slow wave or delta sleep
Vital signs decrease
Physiological rest and restoration occur; immune system strengthens,
muscle/tissue/bone repair
Reduced sympathetic activity
Will cause mental cloudiness for 30-60 minutes if awoken in this stage
Stage 4: (REM)
Occurs about 90 minutes after falling asleep, and will reoccur every 90
minutes
Vivid dreaming occurs
Longer with each cycle, the average length is 20 minutes, can last up
to an hour
Breathing pattern becomes irregular; vital signs vary
Loss of skeletal muscle tone
Cognitive restoration
Explain the effect of rest and sleep in maintaining physical and mental health.
o Sleep is necessary for developing and maintaining new pathways for learning and
memorization while also improving mood and concentration
o Without adequate sleep, it can become very challenging to concentrate and
respond to varying stimuli in the environment
o Sleep and rest can allow maximum physiological benefits with the essential internal
bodily mechanisms, sleep patterns, and stages operating smoothing
o Benefits of adequate rest and sleep:
Repaired muscles, tissues, and bones
Strengthened immune system
Prevents weight gain by decreasing the production of ghrelin and leptin
Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by lessening the release of cortisol
Improved concentration, mood, memory, and productivity
Improved reaction time, hand-eye coordination, strength, power
Describe the characteristics of common sleep disorders.
o Insomnia: ongoing inability to sleep despite having the opportunity to sleep
Difficulty falling asleep, awakening too early, or not getting refreshing sleep
Acute insomnia: lasts a few days possibly due to personal or situational
stressors
Chronic insomnia: lasts a month of more
Intermittent insomnia: sleeping ell for a few days and then having
insomnia for a few days
Women and older adults are at an increased risk of insomnia
o Sleep apnea: more than 5 breathing cessations lasting longer than 10 seconds per
hour during sleep, results in decreased arterial oxygen saturation levels
GUIDE WK. 5 & 6
WEEK 5:
Comfort, Rest & Sleep
Describe the functions, physiology, and stages of sleep.
o Functions of sleep:
Adequate sleep and rest promote optimal health and healing and helps
decrease cortisol production
Inadequate sleep can lead to…
Inability to concentrate, poor judgment, moodiness, irritability,
increased risk for accidents
It can also lead to potential health problems such as risks of obesity,
depression, hypertension, DM, heart attack, MI
o Physiology of sleep:
Two biological mechanisms encompass the process of sleep – the circadian
rhythm and sleep-wake homeostasis.
The circadian rhythm: an internal process that controls the sleep-
wake cycle, and reoccurs every 24 hours
o Regulates a person’s biological clock – causes sleepiness at
night and waking on own in the morning
o The body will sync with environmental cues such as light and
temperature; however, it will maintain the circadian rhythm
without any prompts.
Sleep-wake homeostasis: helps the body remember to sleep after a
given time.
o Regulates the amount and level of sleep that a person needs
according to the amount of sleep deprivation the person is
experiencing.
o Can be affected by factors such as the lighting in a room,
medications, caffeine, foods, sleep environment, and stress
o Stages of sleep: the stages of sleep are not liner, and the body will cycle through
them 4-6 times per night
o NREM: non-rapid eye movement (75-80% of sleep time)
o REM: rapid eye movement (20-25% of sleep time)
Stage 1 (NREM):
Very light sleep
Only a few minutes long (1-5 minutes)
Muscle relaxation occurs
Loss of awareness of surroundings
Breathing is normal; vital signs and metabolism begin to decrease
, Stage 2 (NREM):
Deeper sleep
10-20 minutes long; vital signs and metabolism continue to decrease
50% of the total sleep cycle
Increased relaxation and requires stimulation to awaken
Stage 3: (NREM)
The deepest sleep, also called slow wave or delta sleep
Vital signs decrease
Physiological rest and restoration occur; immune system strengthens,
muscle/tissue/bone repair
Reduced sympathetic activity
Will cause mental cloudiness for 30-60 minutes if awoken in this stage
Stage 4: (REM)
Occurs about 90 minutes after falling asleep, and will reoccur every 90
minutes
Vivid dreaming occurs
Longer with each cycle, the average length is 20 minutes, can last up
to an hour
Breathing pattern becomes irregular; vital signs vary
Loss of skeletal muscle tone
Cognitive restoration
Explain the effect of rest and sleep in maintaining physical and mental health.
o Sleep is necessary for developing and maintaining new pathways for learning and
memorization while also improving mood and concentration
o Without adequate sleep, it can become very challenging to concentrate and
respond to varying stimuli in the environment
o Sleep and rest can allow maximum physiological benefits with the essential internal
bodily mechanisms, sleep patterns, and stages operating smoothing
o Benefits of adequate rest and sleep:
Repaired muscles, tissues, and bones
Strengthened immune system
Prevents weight gain by decreasing the production of ghrelin and leptin
Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by lessening the release of cortisol
Improved concentration, mood, memory, and productivity
Improved reaction time, hand-eye coordination, strength, power
Describe the characteristics of common sleep disorders.
o Insomnia: ongoing inability to sleep despite having the opportunity to sleep
Difficulty falling asleep, awakening too early, or not getting refreshing sleep
Acute insomnia: lasts a few days possibly due to personal or situational
stressors
Chronic insomnia: lasts a month of more
Intermittent insomnia: sleeping ell for a few days and then having
insomnia for a few days
Women and older adults are at an increased risk of insomnia
o Sleep apnea: more than 5 breathing cessations lasting longer than 10 seconds per
hour during sleep, results in decreased arterial oxygen saturation levels
