What term describes the ability to transition to sleep or stay asleep?

Sleep propensity refers to the likelihood or ability of an individual to transition into and maintain sleep. It encompasses various factors that influence how quickly someone can fall asleep and how well they can stay asleep once they have drifted off. This concept is critical in lifestyle medicine, as sleep quality significantly impacts overall health and well-being.

In contrast, sleep cycle describes the progression through the different stages of sleep, including REM and non-REM sleep. Sleep latency specifically measures the time it takes to fall asleep once a person has gone to bed, rather than indicating the overall ability to maintain sleep. Sleep architecture, on the other hand, refers to the structure and patterns of sleep cycles throughout the night, including the distribution of different sleep stages. Understanding sleep propensity is essential for addressing various sleep disorders and improving health outcomes through lifestyle modifications.