Effects of Sleep Deprivation

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Sleep Problems

How much sleep?

• Most adults need 7-8 hours/night• College students average 5-6 hrs/nt• Infants average 16-18 hrs/nt

Consequences of not enough sleep

• Immune system weakened– If don’t get enough sleep, fall behind & create a “sleep debit”;

try to make up for it later, but really can’t– Sleep allows immune system to regenerate

• Health problems– Possible links to diabetes & obesity– Changes in behavior fatigue, inattention, irritability– 1 study showed people not sleep for 3 nights then drove car =

equivalent to having 6 or 7 beers, then driving• Weight gain

– Raid the fridge to eat, gain energy & stay awake longer

Sleep Problems or Parasomnias

• Nightmares = terrifying dreams during REM sleep; wake up & are alert & aware of dream

• Night Terrors = less common & during deepest stage of NREM sleep; when wake – in panic, don’t know what’s going on, not sure why woke up, don’t know why panic b/c don’t remember anything about dream

Problems continued…

• Sleep Walking = more common than might think; more so in children b4 puberty; deepest stage of NREM sleep; rise up out of bed & perform relatively complex activities; some say people may sleep eat too

• Sleep Talking = common in all phases of sleep cycle; usu not make sense; often illogical

Sleep Disturbances, Disorders or “Sleep Dysomnia”

• Insomnia = can’t sleep• Sleep Apnea = problems w/breathing pattern;

normal to stop breathing periodically throughout night, but problem if extreme

• SIDS = Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; some think form of sleep apnea b/c don’t have muscle tone to startle self back to breathing

• Narcolepsy = uncontrollable urges to fall asleep; can be very dangerous; can’t control it biologically