Sleep Medicine Acronyms (From APAP to Zzzz): Part 4, S-Z
Here is a series on abbreviations you are likely to encounter during your visits to a sleep specialist or sleep center.
This fourth section highlights terms that start with the letters S through Z.
See also:
- Sleep Medicine Acronyms (From APAP to Zzzz): Part 1, A-D
- Sleep Medicine Acronyms (From APAP to Zzzz): Part 2, E-M
- Sleep Medicine Acronyms (From APAP to Zzzz): Part 3, N-R
Sleep Medicine Acronyms (S-Z)
S
SBD/SRBD/SDB
Sleep Breathing Disorder/Sleep Related Breathing Disorder/SleepDisordered Breathing . This term referencessleep disorders which impair respiratory system processes during sleep. They include snoring, upper airway resistance, sleep apnea, and hypoventilation. Learn more:
SL
Sleep Latency . This measures the length of time that it takes to fall sleep, usually in stage 1 nonREM sleep, though sleep may also be initiated in other sleep stages. It is SL that is critically examined during the sleep test known as the MSLT.
SO
Sleep Onset . This is the moment you fall asleep, usually in stage 1 nonREM sleep.
SOREMP
Sleep Onset REM Period . A REM period that occurs at sleep onset. This is atypical, as most people transition from wakefulness to stage 1 nonREM sleep. The presence of SOREMPs during an MSLT or “nap test” indicates the potential for a diagnosis of narcolepsy.Learn more:
SPO2
Blood Oxygen Saturation . This is expressed as a chemical equation:The S stands for saturation , the P stands for pulse , and the O2 stands for oxygen . A fingertip sensor known as a pulse oximeter is used during a sleep study to measure trends in both blood oxygen saturation and pulse throughout the test.
SWS
Slow Wave Sleep . This is another name for stage 3 nonREM sleep, delta sleep, or deep sleep. Brain waves during slow wave sleep show a distinctive delta wave pattern. It is during this stage of sleep that the brain releases growth hormone into the bloodstream to help heal the body at the cellular level.
U
UARS
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. A form of sleep-breathing disorder in which there are increases in resistance to airflow in the upper airway during sleep; this leads to brief arousals and daytime fatigue, even in the absence of apneas.Learn more:
W
WASO
Wake After Sleep Onset. The total amount of time spent awake after sleep has been initiated. WASO is a marker of sleep fragmentation , in which people fall asleep, then awaken frequently all night during and between each sleep cycle. A high WASO index on a sleep study may reveal the cause of someone’s excessive daytime sleepiness or confirm the presence of other sleep disorders.
