Sleep Deprivation, Disorders, and Drugs

Sleep Deprivation, Disorders, and Drugs
JoAnna Gonzales
PSY/240
August, 18, 2013
Dean J. Marzofka

Sleep Deprivation, Disorders, and Drugs

Some people may not be aware of the effects or causes of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can affect one’s moods, behaviors, cognitive, and motor skills. The lack of sleep may be the result of one’s environment, a sleep disorder, or perhaps certain drugs. To gain a better understanding of sleep deprivation, we will examine the different sleep stages, common sleep disorders, and the possibility of drug remedies. I will also include a personal experience and reflect on the impact that occurred in my personality and behavior due to being deprived of sleep.
Sleep occurs in different stages ranging from wakefulness to dreaming. As this process progresses the activity in brain waves changes. This brain activity can be measured using electroencephalograms. Stage 1 is a transition state between sleeping and waking. In this stage “EEG is low-voltage, high-frequency signal that is similar to, but slower than, that of alert wakefulness.” (Pinel, 2011, p. 357). In this stage the eyes move more slowly and the muscle activity slows as well. Stage 1 sleep is a light sleep stage and one can be awakened easily. In stage 2 the brain waves become slower with an occasional burst of rapid waves known as sleep spindles. (Pinel, 2011). At this point the body temperature begins to drop and the heart rate begins to slow down in a relaxed state. (“Stages of Sleep”|psychcentral|n.d.pp.3). The transition between light and deep sleep occur in stage 3. “Stage 3 sleep EEG is defined by the occasional presence of delta waves- the largest and slowest EEG waves.” (Pinel, 2011, p. 358). The deepest stage of sleep before reaching REM sleep is stage 4. This stage this stage also displays the largest amounts of delta waves. (“Stages of Sleep”|psychcentral|n.d.pp.3). According to Pinel, (2011) when a person reaches stage 4, they are in that stage for a brief period and then go back through the other stages various times throughout the duration of their sleep time. During this reversal of sleep stages, a person is now experiencing REM sleep. In reference to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, several things take place during REM sleep such as, rapid eye movement, increase of blood pressure, rapid breathing, and limb muscles become paralyzed. It is also noted penile erections occur in males. (www.ninds.nih.gov).
Dreams take place when a person reaches REM sleep. “Some people believe that dreams last only an instant, but research suggests that dreams run on real time.” (Pinel, 2011, p. 359). Some people may not have any recollection of dreams upon awakening, or think that they do not dream, however, everyone has dreams. (Pinel, 2011). Dreams are interpreted in different ways. Freud suggested that dreams are based on unacceptable repressed desires often being sexual in content. Recent studies found that dreams are a result of random signal sent to the brain’s cortex. Perhaps they are the result of external stimuli. (Pinel, 2011).
Feelings of fatigue, lack of motivation, moodiness, and irritability may sound like symptoms of depression; however, these could be signs of sleep deprivation. Personally speaking, I can say that I have experienced these symptoms at one time or another. I work full-time, have three young children under the age of 13, and I am also a student. Many times I take on more than I should and the results are me not getting enough sleep. Three weeks ago, I had to attend a teacher’s workshop that was located 350 miles away from my home. I stayed up till three in the morning for four consecutive days in hopes of finishing my homework before my departure. As I set out to reach my destination the next morning, I thought that I was alert and would make my trip in about six hours. As the morning progressed I started to feel sleepy. I stopped to eat lunch. About thirty minutes later I felt like I was dozing off and had a difficult time staying awake. I noticed that my reaction time in traffic was slower than usual. After reaching my destination, I slept about seven hours. The following morning I struggled to wake up even though I had good night’s sleep. At the workshop I felt drowsy and irritable. I had a difficult time concentrating on hands on activities. I strongly believe that my experience coincides with the material presented in the text book “Biopsychology”. According to Pinel, (2011) studies show that individuals display an increase in sleepiness, fall asleep quicker if given the chance, and display negative effects on various mood test when sleep has been reduced by 3 or 4 hours. (p. 362).
The long term of effects of sleep deprivation is not quite understood, as they have not been too many studies looking into the long term effects of sleep reduction. Certain studies have shown that when sleep was reduced in test subjects and later returned to their normal sleep habits; they did not find any deficits on any of the mood, medical, or performance test. (Pinel, 2011). What I gather is that one can possible pay our sleep debt within time.
For some the presence of a sleep disorder can cause sleep deprivation. Disorders such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or sleep apnea can all cause sleep deprivation. Insomnia is the inability to sleep or remain in a state of sleep. Many times people will seek medical attention for insomnia with little results. This is because when medications such as Valium are given, the person becomes immune and it takes more medication to take effect. The best practice a person can take is not going to bed until they are sleepy to eliminate the time spent in bed before actually falling asleep. (Pinel, 2011). Sleep apnea can also cause a person to lose sleep because they stop breathing and wake up several times during their sleep stages. Sleep Apnea is most common in males, overweight people and the elderly. It can be caused by either the central nervous system not relaying signals to the respiratory system or by an airway obstruction caused by poor muscle tone or spasms. The best remedy for sleep apnea is the use of a C-Pap machine that forces oxygen in to body while the person sleeps. Restless leg syndrome has found some relief from dopamine agonists. Pinel, 2011).
Clearly we have learned that sleep occurs in different stages and that dreams take place in REM sleep. It is also clear that some sleeping disorders such as insomnia cause sleep deprivation. It is difficult still difficult to determine the effects of long term sleep deprivation due to insufficient study, however we have observed how the lack of sleep has effect an individual like myself.

References:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov.
Pinel, J. P. J. (2011). Biopsychology (8th ed,). Boston, MA: Pearson.
“Stages of Sleep”|Psych Central. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.psychcentral.com/lib/stagesofsleep/0002073

References: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov. Pinel, J. P. J. (2011). Biopsychology (8th ed,). Boston, MA: Pearson. “Stages of Sleep”|Psych Central. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.psychcentral.com/lib/stagesofsleep/0002073