elalvást

Elalvás refers to the transition from wakefulness to sleep, commonly translated as sleep onset or falling asleep. The form elalvást is the accusative case of the noun in Hungarian and is used when the concept is the object of a sentence. In everyday use, elalvás denotes the general act of starting to sleep.

Physiologically, elalvás involves a reduction in arousal and sensory processing, relaxation of muscles, and changes in brain activity that mark the beginning of sleep. The process typically begins with light sleep (stage N1), progresses to deeper non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (stage N2), and leads to rapid-eye-movement sleep later in the night. Hormonal and autonomic changes accompany this transition, supporting a shift from wakefulness to the sleep state.

Clinically, difficulties with elalvás are central to insomnia, particularly problems initiating sleep. Delayed sleep phase syndrome, a circadian rhythm disorder, can also impair the onset of sleep. Poor or irregular elalvás can contribute to daytime fatigue, reduced cognitive performance, and mood disturbances. Management emphasizes sleep hygiene, behavioral therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), and, when appropriate, pharmacological options under medical supervision.

Etymology and usage: elalvás is formed from el- (a prefix related to onset or completion) and alvás (sleep). The term appears in medical, psychological, and everyday language to describe the onset of sleep and is used similarly to its equivalents in other languages.