Comfort and Sleep Defintions

Acupressure

A pain relief measure and a descendent of acupuncture.

Addiction

A pattern of compulsive drug use despite adverse consequences.

Adjuvant analgesics

Medications developed for other uses that can reduce certain types of pain and enhance the effects of opioids.

Analgesics

Pharmaceutical agents that relieve pain by decreasing the perception of pain.

Local anesthetics

Cause a loss of sensation to a localized body part and can be applied topically or injected.

Biofeedback

A behavioral therapy that provides patients with information about their physiological responses.

Circadian rhythm

Regulates the 24-hour cycle of biological processes and human sleeping patterns.

Dyssomnia

Classifications of sleep disorders characterized by insomnia or excessive sleepiness.

Endorphins

Produced in the CNS and result in prolonged analgesia and euphoria.

Epidural infusion

Involves the infusion of a narcotic into the epidural space for pain relief.

Guided imagery

Involves creating a mental image that engages one or more of the senses.

Insomnia

A dyssomnia characterized by difficulty falling asleep or early awakening.

Narcotic

Opioid medications that relieve pain by binding to opiate receptors.

Neurotransmitter

Substance P, which increases the firing of nerve impulses.

Nociceptors

Peripheral receptors that respond to potentially damaging stimuli.

Opioid analgesics

Used to treat moderate to severe pain by increasing the pain threshold.

Parasomnia

Patterns of waking behavior that occur during sleep.

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)

Allows clients to administer pain medications when they want using an infusion pump.

Prostaglandins

Hormones that send additional stimuli to the CNS.

Relaxation techniques

Methods that decrease skeletal muscle tension and anxiety.

Pain threshold

The amount of pain stimulation required for a patient to feel pain.

Tolerance

A result of chronic opioid use, requiring larger doses for the same level of analgesia.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Involves controlled low-voltage electrical stimulation applied to large myelinated peripheral nerve fibers.

Sleep Apnea

The absence of breathing or diminished breathing effort during sleep.