Sleep research 80 causes of sleep deprivation

Sleep research: Causes of lack of sleep on the trail

Lack of sleep is a serious health risk and no one can survive without sleep. But why humans have to sleep is still not scientifically explained. On the other hand, it is proven that more and more people in Germany suffer from sleep disorders and a corresponding lack of sleep, with sometimes devastating health consequences.

Around 80 different sleep disorders are known in sleep research
Somnology - sleep medicine, sleep research - is dedicated to the secrets of sleep and in this context, the increasingly common sleep disorders. Sleep problems should, according to experts, be medically assessed as soon as they persist for more than one month, at least three times a week, or interfere with the profession. In the meantime, sleep research has identified around 80 different sleep problems, ranging from sleep problems, to difficulty sleeping through to sleepwalking. Whereby chronic insomnia can not only trigger concentration problems and accidents in everyday life, but also promotes the occurrence of diseases such as hypertension, heart disease such as heart attack, gastrointestinal diseases and mental illnesses such as depression.

Stress most common cause of sleep disorders
At the Sleep Congress in Bremen, around 1800 sleep experts from German-speaking countries are currently devoting themselves to all aspects of sleep. The health consequences of the lack of sleep, which is also widespread in Germany, are one of the focal points of the congress. The professionals strongly recommend seeing the doctor instead of encountering sleep disturbances by taking sleeping pills in self therapy. Because these preparations sometimes have significant side effects and also gradually lose their effect with frequent use. Mental complaints and stress are the most common causes of sleep disorders, followed by pain and noise. When it comes to stress, stress at work or worries about the workplace are the primary cause of sleep disorders.

10 percent of Germans suffer from lack of sleep
Around ten percent of the population in Germany suffer from high-grade sleep problems, with the most common sleep disorder, insomnia (in- and insomnia) affecting women about one and half times as often as men, says Svenja Happe, president of the Sleep Congress „Nordsee-Zeitung“. As a rule, sleep disorders increase from the age of 40 and about every third German has experience with sleep problems, according to the expert. How much sleep a person needs can be very different from person to person. Short sleepers sometimes get by with five hours, late sleepers need up to eleven hours. In Germany, the average is 7.25 hours, with women on average sleeping around one hour longer than men, as Svenja Happe explains.

Scientists differ „larks-“ and „owls types“
In addition, the experts distinguish between Lark and Owl types. Happe explains that lark types go to bed early and get up early, whereas owl types fall asleep late and get up late. Why women, however, sleep longer than men, is also difficult for scientists to explain. Svenja Happe, believes that this could be due to the smaller body size of women. For mammals, for example, they sleep the longer the smaller they are. „For example, hamsters sleep longer than elephants“, explained Happe. Also not yet conclusive scientifically justified, is that the result of an Austrian study, the result of women in addition to their partner sleep worse, men, however, better. Again, the president of the Sleep Congress suspects evolution-related differences.

Prevention with autogenic training, muscle relaxation and sleep hygiene
In the opinion of the expert, in particular, measures such as autogenic training and muscle relaxation exercises are also suitable for preventing sleep disturbances, but also adherence to strict guidelines „sleep hygiene“ should be taken into account. Under „sleep hygiene“ These include, for example, adhering to regular bed times, avoiding long naps during the day (not longer than 30 minutes) and going to bed on heavy meals. Even before falling asleep to larger amounts of alcohol should be dispensed with and no sports be driven, added Svenja Happe compared to the „Nordsee-Zeitung“. The expert, however, rejected popular theories, such as „the best sleep is before midnight“ and stressed: „This is one of many sleep myths that needs to be cleaned up. This default is nonsense. Just like the opinion, every person needs eight hours of sleep“, said the president of the Sleep Congress. (fp, 08.10.2010)

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