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Causes and Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation has become a pervasive health problem in the United States, for children as well as adults. Many children and teenagers do not get the required number of hours they need for a number of behavioral reasons, including:

• late bedtime
• amount of homework
• after-school activities
• distractions before sleep (i.e., TV, computer, telephone)

Other reasons for sleep deprivation may be related to the use of certain medications, as well as sleep disorders that include:

• narcolepsy -- a neurological and chronic disorder marked by a sudden, recurrent and uncontrollable compulsion to sleep, typically beginning in adolescence and young adulthood
• sleepwalking (somnambulism) -- a series of complex behaviors that are normally associated with wakefulness while a person is asleep or in a sleep-like state. Sleepwalking can occur at any age, but most often occurs in children ages 6 to 12. An estimated 15 percent of all children between the ages of 4 and 12 have walked in their sleep at least once, and most outgrow the disorder by adolescence.
• night terrors -- most common in children between the ages of 2 to 6, but can occur at any age. Night terrors are characterized by frequent recurrent episodes of intense crying and fear during sleep, with difficulty arousing the child. It is often difficult to fully awaken the child, and after the episode, he or she normally settles back to sleep without waking. Unlike nightmares, which are frequently dreams of a frightening nature, night terrors are not recalled dreams. Usually there is no situation or event that is dreamed, but rather the emotion of fear itself is felt.
• sleep-wake cycle disorders -- unusual sleep cycles that do not conform to a regular night sleep cycle. These sleep cycles can result in inappropriate sleepiness during morning hours or late afternoon hours.
• insomnia -- difficulty in achieving or maintaining normal sleep. In sleep-onset insomnia, a person has a difficult time falling asleep. In sleep-maintenance insomnia, a person suffers from frequent or early awakening.
• obstructive sleep apnea -- a common sleep apnea caused by obstruction of the airway characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. May be caused by large tonsils and adenoids, craniofacial anomalies, and neuromuscular problems.

Not sleeping enough or not sleeping well can lead to:

• poor concentration and inability to complete a task or make decisions
• altered behaviors and changes in mood
• inability of the body to metabolize glucose
• impaired immune system
• becoming accident prone