Alcohol-Although some people use alcohol to help
themselves fall asleep, it causes sleep disruption during the night, which can
lead to problem sleepiness during the day. Alcohol is also a sedating drug
that can, even in small amounts, make a sleepy person much more sleepy and at
greater risk for car crashes and performance problems;
Caffeine-Whether consumed in coffee, tea, soft drinks, or
medications, caffeine makes it
harder for many people to fall asleep and stay asleep. Caffeine stays in the
body for about 3 to 7 hours, so even when taken earlier in the day it can
cause problems with sleep at night; and
Nicotine from
cigarettes or a skin patch is a stimulant and makes it
harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Problem sleepiness and adolescents
Many U.S. high school and college students have signs of problem sleepiness,
such as:
difficulty getting up for school;
falling asleep at school; and/or
struggling to stay awake while doing homework.
The need for sleep may be 9 hours or more per night as a person goes through
adolescence. At the same time, many teens begin to show a preference for a later
bed time, which may be due to a biological change. Teens tend to stay up later
but have to get up early for school, resulting in their getting much less sleep
than they need.
Many factors contribute to problem sleepiness in teens and young adults, but
the main causes are not getting enough sleep and irregular sleep schedules. Some
of the factors that influence adolescent sleep include:
social activities with peers that lead to later
bedtimes;
homework to be done in the evenings;
early wake-up times do to early school start times;
parents being less involved in setting and enforcing
bedtimes; and
employment, sports, or other extracurricular activities that decrease
the time available for sleep.
Teens and young adults who do not get enough sleep are at risk for problems
such as:
automobile crashes;
poor performance in school and poor grades;
depressed moods; and
problems with peer and adult relationships.
Many adolescents have part-time jobs in addition to their classes and other
activities. High school students who work more than 20 hours per week have more
problem sleepiness and may use more caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol than those
who work less than 20 hours per week or not at all.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS or restless legs syndrome) is a common cause for painful legs that typically eases with motion, and becomes worse and more noticeable at rest. This characteristic nighttime worsening can frequently lead to insomnia. Treatment of the symptoms of restless leg syndrome is generally with medication as well as treating any underlying condition causing restless leg syndrome.
Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.
A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. Sleep needs vary from individual to individual and change throughout your life. Not getting enough sleep can hurt memory performance, health, and your mood.
Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up too early in the morning; or unrefreshing sleep. Secondary insomnia is the most common type of insomnia. Treatment for insomnia include lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.
Insomnia is difficulty in falling or staying asleep, the absence of restful sleep, or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is a symptom and not a disease. The most common causes of insomnia are medications, psychological conditions, environmental changes and stressful events. Treatments may include non-drug treatments, over-the-counter medicines, and/or prescription medications.
Narcolepsy, a chronic disease of the central nervous system causes have not been fully determined. Some theories include abnormalities in hypocretin neurons in the brain or an autoimmune disorder. Symptoms of narcolepsy include excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, disturbed nocturnal sleep, and automatic behavior. Diagnosis of narcolepsy is based on a clinical evaluation, specific questionnaires, sleep logs or diaries, and the results of sleep laboratory tests. Treatments of narcolepsy symptoms include medication and lifestyle changes.
Sleepwalking is a condition in which an individual walks or does other activities while asleep. Factors associated with sleepwalking include genetic, environmental, and physiological. Episodes of sleepwalking may include quiet walking to agitated running. Conditions that may have similar symptoms of sleepwalking, but are not include night terrors, confusional arousals, and nocturnal seizures. Treatment of sleepwalking generally include preventative measures. Medication may be prescribed if necessary.
Hypersomnia is a condition where a person has excessive daytime sleepiness and trouble staying awake during the day. Treatment for hypersomnia includes medication, CPAP machines, and lifestyle changes.
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep disorder characterized by rhythmic movements of the limbs during sleep. The movements typically involve the legs, but upper extremity movements may also occur. Movements occur periodically throughout the night and can fluctuate in severity from one night to the next. They tend to cluster in episodes that last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. These movements are very different from the normal spasms, called hypnic myoclonia, that we often experience initially while trying to fall asleep.
Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
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