Why do people moan in their sleep? According to medical terminology, this phenomenon is called cataphrenia. This word is of ancient Greek origin, and it consists of two meanings. Cata (cata), according to the translation from Greek, means "below", and phrenia (phrenia) - "lamenting". That is, according to the ancient definition, people who groan during sleep have long been called "below lamenters." Why does a person moan when he sleeps, and what to do? We will try to deal with this.
Unwanted symptoms associated with sleep moaning
Doctors recognize this problem, they tend to consider the groan of a person in a dream an undesirable phenomenon. This condition is classified as parasomnia. Therefore, it is desirable to get rid of it if possible, but it in itself does not pose a risk to human life.
Frequent moaning during sleep is extremelynegatively affects both the psychological and physical he alth of a person, as well as those around her. For example, close people can be annoyed by the frequent moans of a sleeping person. However, they may suffer from insomnia, have a constant feeling of irritability and fatigue.
From what exactly is a groan formed and what are its features
Why do people moan in their sleep? During sleep, a person, passing the air into himself very deeply, is inclined to hold his breath for a certain time. Then there is an exhalation, which is often accompanied by a very unpleasant groan.
The frequency of such a moan from a sleeping person can be either an instant or a minute. According to the general trend, cataphrenia is longer during the second part of the nocturnal period. This fact is due to the fact that the paradoxical phase of dreams becomes longer closer to the morning.
If someone who is prone to cataphernia changes the position of his own body while resting, moaning may stop for a certain period, but not for long.
Moaning in a dream affects men to a greater extent: they have this phenomenon 3 times more often than women. Basically, it begins to develop at the age of 18-20 years.
What are groans, their symptoms and characteristics
Moans can be produced in completely different ways, and the person who involuntarily reproduces them may not even be aware of such a problem. Among the symptoms indicating its presence, there are such as:
- dryness inthroat;
- pain in the nasopharyngeal system;
- complaints from people around.
If these factors converge, consider this problem and take measures to eliminate it
Among the main types of sounds from cataphernia, unpleasant and rather loud groans stand out, which look like a howl, squeal or lowing.
The main features that distinguish cataphernia from other phenomena
Cataphernia is different from many phenomena that can happen to a person during his sleep. For example, it differs from snoring in that sounds are made directly when air is exhaled. During snoring, everything happens exactly the opposite.
Sleep apnea differs from cataphernia in that breathing in this process stops after exhalation.
Causes of moaning in sleep
In order to deal with such an ailment, it is worth trying to identify the true causes that provoke its formation. Why does a person moan in a dream at night? In order to find out, you can contact your doctor, who will not be difficult to make a correct diagnosis and give recommendations regarding the treatment of cataphernia.
There are a number of suggestions why a person groans during sleep. Doctors set the following main reasons:
- Upper airway problem, blockage or narrowing.
- A damaged structure in the brain that controls breathing.
- Closing the vocal cords during paradoxical sleep, which can provokeovercoming resistance.
- Hereditary origin. Most of those who suffer from cataphernia have relatives in the family who are also worried about a sleep disorder. It could be sleepwalking, bruxism, nightmares.
- Removal of crowded teeth, various orthodontic problems.
- Undeveloped jaw according to the medical norm.
- High susceptibility to nervous tension, worries and stress.
- Mental and physical exhaustion.
Alcohol drinkers should also refrain from drinking too much, especially before bed. If a person drank any strong alcoholic drink just before a night's rest, he will also be subject to cataphernia.
Therefore, drinking alcohol no later than 4 hours before the onset of deep sleep is considered the norm in this situation.
Smokers should also be careful about their own he alth. Indeed, with constant inhalation of tobacco smoke, a person exposes himself to the risk of mucus congestion in his respiratory tract. As a result, the body has to make some effort to push the air inward. And all this leads to noise moaning.
Sometimes even sleeping on your back causes the back of a person's tongue to sink in, causing blockage of a large part of the hole through which air passes. Therefore, during sleep, the extraction of unpleasant sounds in the form of moans occurs.
Diagnosis at the doctor
If there is a problem with sleep, a person groans, whines in a dream, you need to urgently contact a specialist. Doctors, in order to establish the cause of the described disease at a professional level, carefully conduct research and interview their patients. Among the main questions that he alth professionals often ask all those who decide to use their service may be:
- what is the frequency of moans and their duration;
- how often do you have nightmares;
- is there a pathology in the family environment;
- How often do you drink alcohol or drugs before bed.
It is also very important to show the specialist a diary in which records were kept regarding the features of nightly moaning. It can be done thanks to relatives. After all, they are able to clearly describe the behavior of a person suffering from this disease during the holidays.
Which specialists are best to contact
What to do if you moan in your sleep? Which doctor will contact? You need to visit a somnologist. He can study the features of sleep in detail, as a result of which he can determine whether night moaning has links with other disorders in this area.
An otorhinolaryngologist conducts a detailed examination of the ENT organs in order to identify the organic cause that led to the formation of cataphernia.
A psychotherapist will be able, if necessary, to eliminate any problems associated with the psyche.
Whatresearch being done for cataphernia
In the presence of this problem, to establish the true causes of its occurrence, there is often no need for instrumental research. However, if cataphernia is advanced, the doctor may perform polysomnography. Thanks to it, the work of the heart, brain waves, respiratory rate during sleep is studied. In addition, the movements of the arms and legs during the rest are analyzed and recorded. All this allows you to determine whether cataphernia is associated with other diseases.
Treatment for moaning while sleeping
Why do people moan in their sleep? You already know the possible reasons. And how to treat? The exact method of therapy for cataphernia has not been developed, however, certain recommendations can be given to eliminate or minimize it:
- before going to bed you should take a shower or bath, rinse your nose with warm water;
- do breathing exercises based on generally accepted rules;
- drink hot tea;
- take a pose in the process of resting with a raised headboard.
For all those who are nearby, advice should also be given to use earplugs during sleep, sleep in other rooms, carefully change the position of the body of a person who makes loud sounds while relaxing. Of course, herself in itself, the problem associated with the presence of cataphernia is not dangerous and does not pose a great threat to human life and he alth. But still, you need to find out why a person groans in a dream, since this ailment can be closely related to seriousdiseases. There is no need to panic in this situation, today there are many ways by which you can eliminate such ailments once and for all.
