Sleeping and Insomnia

Sleeping and Insomnia Introduction have been observing my roommate's sleeping patterns. He has insomnia and takes sleeping pills every night, sometimes with alcohol. My hypothesis is that his dependence on sleeping pills and his mixing with alcohol are hindering his condition, rather than helping it. I think that there are many other, more natural things he could do to ease his insomnia. General understanding of sleeping We spend about one third of our life sleeping.

Sleep is defined as the suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored (ThinkQuest, 2003). The brain is not at rest during sleep as popularly thought, but is extremely active and it is the brain that tells us when it is time to sleep. Sensations of light taken in from the retina are transferred through the nerves to an area of the brain determines the amount of light exposure and adjusts the body accordingly.

The exact purpose of sleep remains a mystery, but researchers speculate that during certain stages of sleep, the brain is testing, strengthening, or somehow improving our neurons. The brain follows cycles of between 90 and 100 minutes each during sleep repeating 4 or 5 times in a course of one night (ThinkQuest). There are two types of sleep: Non-REM sleep and REM sleep. Cycles one, two, three, and four are generally non-REM stages. The stages then quickly reverse and REM sleep, which is the dreaming period, is attained. The cycle then starts over.

The proportional amount of sleep we get also changes with age. During non-REM sleep the heart rate decreases and stabilizes. The breathing pace slows and muscles relax. Blood vessels open wider to allow greater blood flow to the muscles, while the blood pressure drops and the metabolic rate drops about 20%. Periods of eye movement and muscle twitching occur during REM sleep, hence the name REM (rapid eye movement). The brains temperature increases and tissues swell. There are variations in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate as well.

Why do we need sleep? It is believed that sleep evolved to protect animals from predators by reducing their activity during times when they are most vulnerable (MSN Encarta, 2003). There are a number of theories as to why we sleep and research has shown sleep to serve specific biological functions. One idea defines sleep as a restorative function, which task is to balance biological processes that degrade when we are awake (ThinkQuest, 2003). Among the restorative functions is the task to restore our energy lost.

Another possibility may be that of energy conservation. Although our brain activity is very high during sleep, the energy consumed by our body remains low. And because our body temperature is lowered by about 2°C, our metabolic rate drops and our body prepares itself for the coolest period since it last slept. How much sleep a person needs varies with the individual (ThinkQuest, 2003).

Age, health, metabolism, body temperature, and quality of sleep are all factors, although eight hours in one twenty-four hour cycle considered the average amount needed for an adult. The effects of sleep deprivation are impaired judgment, diminished creativity and productivity, inability to concentrate, reduced language and communication skills, slowed reaction times, decreased abilities to learn and remember, and even hallucinations.

Studies in the United States and Canada have shown that accidental deaths are significantly more frequent during the switch to daylight savings time in spring than before or after the shift because of the lost hour of sleep (Coren, 1996). About Insomnia People suffering from Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep. They may wake up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep, wake up too early in the morning, or experience a night of unrefreshing sleep (Cardinal, 2003).

Headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, bloodshot eyes, and daytime sleepiness are other symptoms. There are three distinct types of insomnia: Transient, Short-term, and Chronic Insomnia. Transient Insomnia is very short-term, lasting only a day or two (Cardinal, 2003). It may be caused by sleeping in a strange bed (a hotel, perhaps), or worrying about an important upcoming event. Short-term insomnia can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Stress or poor sleep habits are common causes. Chronic insomnia is a much more serious problem.

It can last for years and sometimes starts in early childhood. Health problems may result from Chronic Insomnia, as well as excessive daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, memory loss and irritability. Insomnia is often not a disease but a symptom of some underlying disease or problem (Cardinal, 2003). It may be brought about by stress, anxiety, or depression. Chronic disorders, such as sleep apnea, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, have been known to result in Insomnia, as well as the medications used to treat these ailments.

Poor eating habits, caffeine, and the consumption of alcohol and nicotine are known to disrupt sleeping patterns also. Men and women of all ages can suffer from Insomnia, although it seems to be more common in women and the elderly people (Cardinal, 2003). The ability to sleep appears to decrease with advancing age rather than their need for sleep. Treatment for chronic insomnia consists of first diagnosing and treating underlying medical or psychological problems (Cardinal, 2003). Meditation, hypnosis,.