Sleep Therapy

THE THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND INSOMNIA.

Sleep is a state of rest which is mental and physical. It is a state where the person becomes unaware of the environment and is inactive. In this state mammals and humans are detached from their immediate environment and cannot respond to most external stimuli. When sleep is deprived, a person can become groggy, grumpy, irritable, and forgetful. Lack of sleep affects the brain’s ability to function and thus the body becomes strained and the brain will start a thinking riot. The part of the brain that controls language, memory, planning, and sense of time, begins to shut down. Research shows that 17 hours of wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance in humans. Sleep Deprivation is distressing because it becomes difficult for a person to concentrate on doing every day functions and experience the feeling of mental and physical exhaustion.  

When a person sleeps, the body produces valuable hormones, for example, growth hormone. This hormone is important to the body especially in children as it helps muscle mass built and  cells/ tissues to repair. The body also releases other important hormones that help fight various infections during deep sleep, thus sleep is very important to living beings, especially during sickness. The hormones released during sleep also affect how the body uses energy. Studies show that people who have less sleep tend to have weight concerns. They also begin to develop a taste for foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates. Sleep deprivation can be caused by one or a combination of the following factors; lifestyle, medical conditions and side-effects of medicine. 

Lifestyle factors that cause sleeplessness are:

Excess intake of caffeine (tea/coffee/soft drinks) and alcohol consumption before bedtime.

Skewed working hours that go on till late in the night.

Some studies suggest that smoking is also connected to sleeplessness.

Watching TV/playing video games/ poor sleep hygiene

Stress and anxiety or depression.

Certain medicines can cause sleeplessness. It is best to consult your doctor about your medicine’s side-effects. 

Medical conditions such as asthma, chronic depression, mental ill-health, sleep apnoea, and a few other medical conditions can cause sleeplessness.