Effects of Sleep Deprivation ****** Sleep Problems

How much sleep? Most adults need 7-8 hours/night College students average 5-6 hrs/nt Infants average 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