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Sleep Fragmentation

Meaning

Sleep Fragmentation is a clinical term describing the disruption of continuous sleep by multiple, brief arousals or awakenings that often do not lead to full consciousness but significantly impair the restorative quality of sleep. This fragmented pattern prevents the body from achieving sufficient duration in the deeper, more restorative stages of NREM and REM sleep, which are crucial for memory consolidation and tissue repair. The condition is frequently associated with underlying physiological disturbances, such as obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, or nocturnal hormonal fluctuations like those involving cortisol or estrogen. Chronic fragmentation leads to daytime fatigue and impaired cognitive function.