Is lack of sleep and other sleep disorders to blame for the rising obesity among the post-millennials? According to a study published by the researchers at King’s College, London, lack of sleep and irregular bedtime may result in increased calorie consumption among children which in turn contributes to obesity. Among the reasons contributing to insufficient sleep are an increasing use of electronic and other technological devices before bedtime.
Researchers say that using bright display devices like tablets and smartphones disrupt the production of the sleep hormone melatonin which impacts the quality of sleep our children get. A rising number of children are also observed to be dealing with the ensuing tiredness with the help of stimulants like caffeine and nicotine that is making the situation worse.
Besides the hours that children sleep at night, researchers say that the quality of sleep has been taking a hit as well. Sleep apnea is a leading contributor to this. Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by disruptions in breathing patterns during sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 2 to 3 percent of children in the United States suffer from sleep apnea. An analysis on the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine projects a direct correlation between children suffering from sleep apnea and depression. The study found that nearly 3 million kids between the ages of 12 and 17 suffered at least one depressive episode in the past year.
Sleep disorders can impact the quality of life beyond causing obesity and depression. A recent article published on the American Journal of Physiology—Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology finds concrete proof in the theory that the human immune system replenishes itself during sleep. Building immunity is an extremely vital component of growing up and sleep disorders can cause serious long-term harm to these kids.
Unfortunately, sleep related disorders are not unique to children and continue well into adulthood. Besides causing short-term and long-term health issues, sleep deprivation can also lead to fatal consequences. According to a National Sleep Foundation report, there are nearly 1550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries due to motor vehicle collisions caused by drowsy drivers. Drivers who had stayed awake for 18 hours were found to have the same level of impairment as a person with 0.05 percent alcohol in his blood. Those who had stayed awake for 24 hours were studied to have as much impairment as a person with 0.10 percent blood alcohol content.
While insomnia and other sleep disorders can lead to overeating and depression, the reverse can be just as true. Besides caffeine, food such as sugar, alcohol, spices and chocolates too are known to cause sleep disorders such as insomnia. This is a vicious cycle that can wreak havoc on the health as well as lifestyle of our kids as well as adults.
The solution then is quite straightforward. Researchers recommend children as well as adults to avoid food like caffeine and sugar as well as lifestyle habits (such as use of electronic devices) before sleep. While this can help with melatonin secretion and can greatly bring down the cases of insomnia, other disorders such as sleep apnea will need medical intervention.
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