Sleep and Sleep Disorder - Research Paper Example

Sleep and Sleep Disorder Introduction Sleep is a vital component in human life. Some people fail to have enough sleep because of several factors that include health issues like sickness and stress. People having difficulties in sleeping are said to have sleep disorders. Doctors and psychologists advice people to get enough sleep as much as possible to boost their health while going about their activities normally. Each individual experience sleep disorders at different rates depending on age, sex and their daily activities together with the external factors. Scientists cannot generalize the causes of sleep disorder because of those disparities that are influenced by human body system. This paper will discuss the significance of sleep, how to attain proper sleep and the amount of sleep advised by medical practitioners. It will also establish types of sleep disorders, their causes and how to deal with those disorders. Discussion The amount of sleep required by each person depends on the age. Adults cannot sleep for the same amount of time like infants. According to a report by Center for Disease Control and Prevention, infants from birth to two months need 12-18 hours while those between 3 to 11 months need 14-15 hours daily (CDC 1). They also establish that children between one and ten years require sleeping for 10 to 14 hours a day. Sleep is also important for adolescents because they are still growing. Center for Disease Control and Prevention states, that adolescents need 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep daily while adults require 8 to 9 hours daily (CDC 1). Palo Alto Medical Foundation illustrates two kinds of sleep exhibited by human beings; non-rapid eye Movement and rapid eye movement (1). Some people fall asleep within ten to twenty minutes after going to bed. The body undergoes a cycle where the first four stages fall under non-rapid eye movement. During the first two stages, an individual can easily be woken up. Their muscle contraction can be noticed effortlessly. People fall in deep sleep in stages three and four where it is difficult to wake them up. Muscle activity and eye movement at this stage do not occur. Rapid eye movement is a kind of sleep where people enter into deep sleep and dreaming. This is the fifth stage that involves eye movement; it is normally after 90 minutes of going to bed. Muscle movements are not involved but the eyes are moving under the eyelids as if a person is watching a movie. This is a clear sign that the person could be dreaming. Health practitioners and psychologists propose the simplest and significant ways that influence sleep hygiene. Going to bed at the same time and waking up same time everyday is essential. They indicate that having irregular sleeping and waking up patterns disrupts proper functioning of the brain. Sleeping environment is also a factor that influences sleeping. It is advocated for sleeping in a quiet and dark place that is comfortable and is neither too cold nor too hot. Extreme weather conditions do not promote good sleep. Many people use their bed for watching movies and televisions. Psychologists indicate that it is proper to make the bed comfortable for sleeping only. The bedroom should be free from televisions, computers and other electronic gadgets that would distract the brain from concentrating on sleeping. Significantly, the right quantity of meals before bedtime is crucial. Taking too heavy meals just before bedtime can make one uncomfortable. The right kind of clothing while sleeping influences comfort and the amount of sleep during the night. It is imperative to put on loose clothes like pajamas. Again, it is not good to exercise before sleep because it makes one tired hence will not attain maximum amount of sleep. Adhering to the sleeping patterns improves human health. Sleep brings down the rate of metabolisms, breathing and heart beat thus enabling the body to restock after routinely physical exercise. Adults possess massive growth hormones. Sleep enables their release contributing to new growth of red blood cells, tissues and stronger bones. Another significant importance of sleep is strengthening of human nervous and immune systems. Sleep assists the body to replenish vital body organs that influence the immune system. It also enables the brain to function properly. Sleep is mandatory for human survival. Research show that rats that were used for experimenting sleep died because they were not allowed to sleep for more than two weeks (Palo Alto Medical Foundation 1). This shows that human beings can die within less than two weeks of no sleep because their bodies process a lot of information that makes them tired. Indication of sleep disorders could be noticed for several aspects like falling asleep in the middle of a lesson or conversation. Such people display inadequate sleep that could be caused by staying up late or health problem. Another factor is having challenges waking up in the morning. This means that an individual did not have enough sleep in the night. Poor concentration ability is also a sign of sleep deprivation (Palo Alto Medical Foundation 1). Often, people get depressed when they have several days of less sleep. This is evident from change in their daily behavior as well as complains of fatigue and muscle pain. Several types of sleep disorders exist with each calling for a different treatment technique. Sleepwalking is a common sleep disorder among children aged between 8 and 12 years. A child wakes sits up or walks around without seeing or thinking. This disorder can be reduced by awakening the child. Bedwetting at night is another disorder familiar among toddlers between 6 and 12 years. This occurs during the first four stages of sleep and is attached with family history, weak bladder and developmental delay (Dawson 2). Another aspect leading to bedwetting is emotional pain. This problem can be eliminated by training the child to be going to relieve themselves at certain times of the night. Notable, medication is advised for acute cases. Sleep-onset anxiety entails inability to sleep because of worries and fears (Dawson 2). This is because of traumatic events or irritable activities during the day. It happens among older children. The best intervention measure is reassuring the child that everything is well. Another way is to offer cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Sleep apnea is common among adults and a minute percentage of children. snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea that results from breathing through the mouth during sleep with too much sleeping during the day. Narcolepsy is another condition associated with too much sleep during the day (CDC 1). They occur during unclear circumstances, include hallucinations, and sleep attacks. Treatment measure involve about 12 hours of sleep or medication. Restless legs syndrome is a creeping sensation related to pains and aches all through the leg forcing no sleep. Conclusion While sleep is important for human continued existence, there are certain cases that deprive an individual from sleep. A controlled sleep is important for better health. nevertheless, too much sleep can be harmful because it causes laziness and fatigue although it does not kill. There are certain people who have trained themselves to sleep less hours because of too much work but they do not portray any sleep disorder. This means that sleep depends on how one tunes their mind and body. Works Cited CDC. Sleep and Sleep Disorders. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013. Web.5 Dec 2013 < http://www.cdc.gov/features/sleep/> Dawson, Peg. Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Educators. National Association of School Psychologists, 2004. Web.5 Dec 2013 < http://www.nasponline.org/resources/health_wellness/sleepdisorders_ho.aspx> Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Sleep and sleeping Disorders. Pamf.org, 2013. Web.5 Dec 2013 < http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/diseases/sleep.html> Read More