Sleep Deprivation, Nightmares, And Sleepwalking

Night terrors also known as sleep terrors can be defined as a “sleeping disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified” (Meyers, 2014). Night terrors most commonly occur with children. Many people in general not just parents get confused between a nightmare and a night terror. Nightmares occur during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep which is a state of sleep where people are conscious. When a person wakes up from a nightmare they have a “vivid memory of a long movie like a dream” (nightterrors.org). Night terrors, on the other hand, occur “during NERM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered” (Meyers, 2014). Since the child is in such deep sleep he/she will not remember a night terror. Since the child cannot remember their dream it makes it hard for doctors and psychologist to figure out what the child is fearful of, and why it is occurring. Although it is difficult for professionals to diagnose, it is beneficial to the child not

Obstructive sleep apnea has become an increasingly big problem in the United States. It is also apparent that obesity is also one of the biggest epidemics in our country as well. There is no question that both obesity and having obstructive sleep apnea go hand in hand for several reasons. I will go into some detail as to why these two go hand in hand, how young kids are now having issues with these two things, and what we as a society can do about it.

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder effecting an estimated 10 percent of all humans at least once in their lives (1). This widespread phenomenon varies in its intensity and frequency. While most sleepwalking incidents are short and not dangerous, some can involve self-injury and are much more dangerous for the sleeper. Also, most interestingly, the disorder seems to stem from many different sources, not from one definable cause such as a chemical imbalance. While it is predominantly pre-adolescents who suffer from somnambulism, it is also observed in adults, although the frequency and severity of incidents increase with age. The source of the disorder was once thought to be entirely psychological and an extension of

Sleep Apnea is a chronic sleep disorder causing shallow, infrequent or pauses in breathing. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea affects more than 18 million Americans and is as common as type two diabetes. Common in both children and adults, there are three main types of sleep apnea. The first is central apnea, followed by the most common form, obstructive apnea and finally the combination of both, mixed/ complex apnea. Although these three types of apnea have differing symptoms and treatments, they all share negative effects on the body and sleep cycles. The quality of sleep is usually lower than normal, as the pauses in breathing can often bring apnea patients from a deep to a shallow slumber, as the body’s natural warning for oxygen. This lack of deep sleep can also cause drowsiness and fatigue during the daytime in addition to eyesight problems and reduced reaction times. Sleep apnea, occurring in both children and adults is higher in prevalence in Hispanic and African-American men.

Sleep apnea is a life-threatening condition, which is the collapse of the throat and block the airway. Also known as obstructive sleep apnea – OSA, it is associated with obesity, and one of the major risk for heart disease. According to Dr. O’Neil in an OSA the upper airway closes off because the muscles that hold it open lose tone. Therefore, each time the airway closes, there is a pause in breathing. The sleep deprivation worseness obesity as well as causes a severe fatigue during the day. In addition, sleep apnea increase risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke (American Heart Association, 2015).

Night terrors are a form of a sleep disorder in which a person experiences episodes of screaming and intense fear while partially still asleep. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Sleep terrors affect almost 40

Somnambulism, or sleepwalking, belongs to a group of parasomnias. This disorder of arousal is characterized by complex motor behaviors initiated during stages 3 and 4 of non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep (slow-wave sleep) (3). Behaviors during sleepwalking episodes can vary greatly. Some episodes are limited to sitting up, fumbling and getting dressed, while others include more complex behaviors such as walking, driving a car, or preparing a meal (2). After awakening, the sleepwalker usually has no recollection of what has happened and may appear confused and disoriented. The behaviors performed while sleepwalking are said to be autonomous automatisms. These are nonrelfex actions performed without conscious volition and

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night unable to move or speak, to make it worse, imagine being visited by a witch,alien,or demon while that happens. This frightening phenomenon is called sleep paralysis which can last from one minute to an hour. Although it’s not common to experience sleep paralysis, it’s certainly not rare. In other words, it could happen only once, or a numerous amount of times throughout your life. After having a first-hand experience of this, I’ve researched the signs and symptoms, what it is and how it happens, and most importantly, how to prevent

If you have ever been awakened by someone screaming in panic, heavily sweating, and tossing around in their sleep, you have most likely experienced someone having night terrors. Night terrors is defined as a sleep disorder associated with arousal of terror or dread (Healthline). Occasionally, night terrors can happen to adults, but they are most common in children ages 3-12 (WebMD). However, higher percentage of children do grow out of night terrors while entering the teenage years. Unlike a nightmare, victims of night terrors have no recollection of the episode.

Sleep terrors are commonly known by a few terms, including sleep terrors, night terrors, sleep terror disorder, and pavor nocturnus. The person having a sleep terror will awaken from a dream crying or screaming, which may last for minutes. The person is difficult to awaken and confused. There is no recollection of the

Sleep terrors more commonly affect young children between the ages of 4 – 12. I picked this sleep disorder because my daughter suffered from them. Many parents refer to this disorder as night terrors. Sleep terrors are unlike the common nightmare. Sleep terrors happen during the beginning of a sleep cycle; whereas, the common nightmare will be experienced during the latter half of an individual’s sleep cycle. When a child experiences a sleep terror that child will not awaken, but instead falls lazily back into bed, not remembering anything the next morning. To experience a child having a night terror is horrifying, spine-chilling, and leaves you feeling helpless. I had no idea what was happening the first time she suffered from a sleep

The first and most researched sleep disorder is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea does not affect children as often as it effects adults, but it is still a rising concern. Sleep apnea occurs in about 2 per cent of children, mainly between the ages of one through eight. But it can also show up in older children and even infants. (Klein). Research says that young blacks are more at risk than young whites. (Fritz p 83). Children with sleep apnea briefly stop breathing many times during the night due to an obstruction in the respiratory tract. Most of the time it is related to enlarged tonsils and adenoids or to obesity. As the child will gasp for there breath during sleep, they awaken for a few moments to regain there normal breathing and then they immediately return back to sleep. Because the child will be awoken by this many times during the night, this cause sleep deprivation. (Common Sleep Problems AA). The physical symptoms of sleep apnea are excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, restless sleep, heavy and irregular breathing, excessive perspiring during the night, bad dreams, sleeping with there mouth open, sleeps in strange positions, morning headaches, learning problems, excessive irritability, depression, changes in personality, difficulty

Many people in today’s society and in past societies have experienced sleep paralysis. It can be seen in art, books, and even videos. People today tell their stories and how it feels to experience sleep paralysis in documentaries, but before any technology came out, people would describe their experiences in writing or drawings. Sleep paralysis is not dangerous, but it can be quite horrific. When one experiences sleep paralysis, they are unable to move any part of their body, the only body part one is able to move is their eyes, and during sleep paralysis, the person still continues to breath. Sleep paralysis is caused by the natural sleep cycle, which causes many people to have it, but ones with certain health problems have a higher chance

     Finally, sleep is lost and never will be regained. During the first year of a baby’s life, parents, especially mothers, lose 700 or more hours of sleep. That is a lot. No wonder parents look like a walking zombie. When babies do sleep through the night, parents still wake up to check on them to make sure that they are comfortable and everything is all right. Unfortunately, babies aren’t the only cause for loss of sleep. Teenagers are to. They go out and stay

Night terrors can also be classified as sleep terrors. It is a sleep disorder causing feelings of terror or dread, and typically occurs during the first hours of stage three-four rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Sleep terrors usually begin in children between the ages of three and twelve, and usually stop during adolescence (Schacter). Night terrors are a relatively common occurrence that usually only appears in young children. A night terror will usually occur after the young child goes to bed. They can actually be hereditary. A new study that took place in Toronto explained that night terrors, in which children exhibit sudden bouts of extreme fear and screaming an hour or two after going to sleep, appear to have a strong hereditary component (ABSM).