How to Diagnose REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a condition that occurs during the REM phase of sleep. Normally during this phase, the sleeper has rapid eye movements, higher blood pressure and loss of muscle movement. With RBD, movement remains and can lead to a series of problems.
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Instructions
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Look for symptoms of RBD. The main symptom is that the sleeper will act out their dreams without their knowledge. This may lead to violent outbursts and movements that can cause injury to you or your bed partner.
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Keep a dream journal. Write down the dreams that you remember and see if they correspond to the actions that you committed. You may have punched, kicked or jumped up out of bed while still slumbering.
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Make an appointment with a doctor to set up a series of sleep studies. However, before the sleep studies are conducted, he may wish you to consult with a neurologist in order to rule out any possible neurological causes of the violent sleep behavior.
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Undergo a neurological exam. The doctor may recommend a CT scan as well as look for any abnormal movement responses.
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Get a polysomnography exam. This sleep study test is performed at a center where doctors can observe you while you sleep. The results of this test can indicate whether or not you have RBD.
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Tips & Warnings
Certain medications have been linked to causing RBD. This includes the use of antidepressants or withdrawal from sedatives.
RBD is also associated with a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life.
