Sleep Health Flashcards
describe the 2 main types of sleep
- Non-rapid eye movement (Non-REM)
- accounts for 75 to 80% of sleep
- has 4 different stages
- Rapid eye movement (REM)
- occurs about every 90 minutes
- lasts 5-30 minutes
- brain is highly active, but body is typically still
- dreams usually occur in the phase
T/F: some brain activity increases during sleep
TRUE
many parts of the brain are as active as awake periods
at least 2 hours of dream state per night
which hormones increase during sleep?
growth hormone
melatonin
how is sleep important?
- helps restore normal levels of activity and normal balance among parts of the nervous system
- necessary for protein synthesis which allows repair of cells and tissues
- allows time for our mind to solve problems
- allows time for memory processing
- non-REM sleep removes unnecessary info, moves memories to long-term storage
- REM sleep cements connections in our memory
describe sleep in newborns and infants
- 50% quiet or non-REM sleep and 50% active or REM sleep
- total sleep time = 16 to 17 hours/24 hour period with frequent awakenings for feeding and nurturing
describe sleep in children ages 1-5 years
- amount of sleep time decreases to ~11-13 hours per 24 hour period
- generally, sleep through the night
- nap during the day as needed
describe sleep in middle childhood ages 5-12 years
- total sleep time 10-12 hours
- may experience parasomnias (sleep problems) such as:
- enuresis (bedwetting)
- nightmares
- sleep walking
describe sleep in adolescents ages 12-18 years
- need ~9 hours of nightly sleep for optimal health, emotional well being, and cognitive functioning
- often experience delayed sleep phase syndrome
- frequently do not get sufficient sleep
what is delayed sleep phase syndrome?
can’t go to sleep until late at night and prefer to sleep later in the morning
describe sleep in adulthood
- generally need 7.5-8 hours of nightly sleep
- increasing frequency of problems sleeping including common sleep disorders such as:
- obstructive apnea
- insomnia
- restless leg syndrome
describe sleep in older adults ages 65+ years
- still need ~7-8 hours of total sleep time → may decrease to as little as 6 hours a night with naps common during the day
- increased number of nighttime awakenings
- frequently awaken very early in the morning
- sleep may be impacted by illness and medications
how common is it for people to get insufficient sleep?
- 7/10 adults have trouble sleeping
- ⅓ of Americans have symptoms of insomnia
- 57% of middle schoolers reported insufficient sleep
- 72% of high schoolers reported insufficient sleep
list contributors to sleep disorders
- aging
- overweight
- diabetes
- pain/illness
- genetics
- smoking
- medications, stimulants, alcohol
- stress
- environment
list 3 signs of sleep deprivation
- needing an alarm clock to wake up
- falling asleep within 5 minutes of hitting the pillow
- well-rested people take 10-15 minutes
- napping easily
list general symptoms of a sleep problem
- performance decrease: academic, physical, etc.
- behavioral difficulties
- irritable
- hyperactive
- frequent illness
- headaches, jaw pain, earaches
- depression, anxiety
- daytime sleepiness
list consequences of poor sleep health
- irritability
- exhaustion
- easily distracted
- making unsound decisions
- impaired cognition performance
- increase likelihood of:
- motor vehicle accidents
- industrial accidents
- medical errors
- loss of work productivity
- heart disease
- weight gain
- impaired immune system
- cancer
- stroke
- diabetes
- pain
- mental health
- memory
- reproduction
- early death
how does poor sleep contribute to weight gain?
inadequate sleep cases shifts in hormones which may:
- decrease sense of being full
- signal hunger
- increase appetite
- decrease impulse control
how does poor sleep contribute to heart disease?
shorter sleep is associated with 45% increase of developing heart disease and/or dying of heart disease
- increases BP and HR
- increases atherosclerosis
- increases cortisol (fight or flight hormone)