Sleeping Disturbances

Since a large percent of a person’s life is spent sleeping, it is crucial to achieve sufficient sleep. Sleeping disturbances are largely responsible for inadequate sleep. Sleep disturbances usually result from biochemical or environmental influences. Consequently, there are many harmful short-term and long-term effects on the body. In order to minimize harmful effects, bright light treatments, sleeping pills, cognitive behavioral therapy alterations, and other treatment may be beneficial. In order to sleep sufficiently and avoid sleeping disturbances, however, exercise, proper sleep hygiene, and other prevention methods can be taken. SLEEPING DISTURBANCES 4 Sleeping Disturbances Approximately one third of an individual’s life is spent sleeping. In the average person, that is 25 years. Sleep is crucial in helping the mind and body to be renewed and refreshed (Searle, 2000). The typical individual needs about 7 or 8 hours of sleep a night. Sleep needs change, however, from one person to another. Therefore, the best method to assess adequate sleep is directly related to how energized a person feels throughout the day (Searle, 1995). Noland, Price, Dake, and Telljohann (2009, p. 225) defined sufficient sleep as being “the amount necessary to permit optimal daytime functioning. ” On the other hand, sleep deprivation is “the inability to get adequate amounts of sleep” (Searle, 1995, p. 2). Sleeping Disorders The American Sleep Disorders Association categorized over 70 different types of sleeping disorders in 2000. Some of the more common disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome (Searle, 2000). Next to common sleeping disorders, Delayed Sleep Syndrome and Advanced Sleep Syndrome affect the body’s ability to feel sleepy when going to bed or awake when rising in the morning. Insomnia One of the most frequently occurring sleeping disorders is insomnia. Approximately 1/3 of adults are faced with insomnia at some point during their lives (MayoClinic, 2009). Insomnia is defined as reduced sleep quality or difficulty initiating sleep and/or maintaining sleep, for a month or more (Randall, Roehrs, & Roth, 2008). Insomnia falls into two sub-groups: sleep-onset insomnia and sleep-maintenance insomnia. Sleep-onset insomnia impairs the ability for individuals to fall asleep SLEEPING DISTURBANCES 5 (Sleeping pills, 2008). Researchers have found that delayed melatonin rhythms and body temperatures correspond with sleep-onset insomnia (Lack & Wright, 2007). Sleepmaintenance insomnia affects an individual’s ability to remain asleep through the night (Sleeping pills, 2008). It is estimated that 10-15% of adults will struggle with sleepmaintenance insomnia (Mayo Clinic, 2009). Causes of insomnia often branch from a variety of other ailments. Stress, anxiety, depression, and caffeine, and a host of other causes are largely responsible for sleep-onset insomnia (Mayo Clinic, 2009). Despite the prevalence of insomnia in older individuals, it can affect individuals of all ages. A recent study of insomnia disorders experienced in specific occupations surveyed nurses working in the United States. Of 2,082 nurses, findings evidenced that 27% suffered from insomnia. Likewise, 32% experienced difficulty remaining asleep. As a result, loss of sleep correlated with a higher percentage of errors in the nurses’ dispensing of prescriptions and their patients’ chart records (Amschler &McKenzie, 2010). Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that is characterized by interrupted breathing (Searle, 1995). In most cases, the tongue, tonsils, and/or soft palate block the air from traveling in and out of the throat. Such cases usually result from built up fat tissues in the neck region caused from being overweight. However, a more serious form of sleep apnea called central sleep apnea occurs when the portion of the brain responsible for controlling respiration does not remember to instruct the chest muscles and diaphragm to initiate breathing (Sleep apnea: Keeping up the positive pressure, 2010).