| Basic Sleep Cycle | Progression through orderly succession of sleep states and stages. For the healthy adult the first cycle is begins by going from wakefulness to non-REM sleep. The first REM period follows the first period of non-REM sleep and the two sleep states continue to alternate throughout the night with an average period of about 90 minutes. A night of normal human sleep usually consists of 4-6 non-REM/REM sleep cycles. |
| BDZ | Benzodiazepine |
| BECONASE | Nasal steroid spray. Extremely useful to reduce nasal inflammation and swelling. Can be used for long periods. Flixonase is very similar but is prescription only. |
| Benzodiazepines | Developed in the 1950's this class of compounds tranquilize and sedates. |
| Beta Activity | Brain waves with a frequency of greater than 13 Hz (Hertz). |
| Bi-Level | Bi-level pressure device used to treat sleep apnea. The "bi" refers to two pressures: a lower pressure for exhalation and a higher pressure for inhalation. Bi-Level machines are more expensive than a standard CPAP but some patients tolerate it better because they can exhale comfortably against the constant inhalation pressure. (Sometimes called Bi-PAP but that is a trademark name of one system) |
| Biological Clock | Term for the brain process causing us to have 24-hour fluctuations in body temperature hormone secretion and other bodily activities. The most important function fosters the daily alternation of sleep and wakefulness. The biological clock is found in a pair of tiny bilateral brain areas called the suprachiasmatic nuclei. |
| Bi-PAP (BPAP) | Trademark name of a Bi-Level cpap machine. |
| Blood Oxygen Saturation | The level of oxygen in your blood. Also SaO2. It is measured by an oximeter. Episodes of CSA and OSA reduce the oxygen in your blood. This can lead to hypoxemia and hypercapnia. |
| BMI | Body Mass Index |
| Body Position | Four positions are identified which a patient may be sleeping; back left side right side or abdomen. The time spent sleeping in each position and the number of respiratory events in a particular position are tabulated. |
| BPAP | Bilevel Positive-Airway Pressure. These PAP units provide two levels of air pressure: a higher level when you inhale and a lower level when you exhale. |
| BPM | Beats per minute |
| Bradycardia | Heart rhythm with a rate lower than 60 beats per minute in an adult. |
| Brain Waves | The brains spontaneous electrical activity studied by electroencephalography (EEG). |
| Bruxism | Teeth grinding during sleep. |
| Bubble Mask | A nasal CPAP mask designed by ResCare in Australia that looks like a bubble with a hole in it. Seals against the face better in some people. |
