A TRAVAIL OF A MEDICAL STUDENT: Sleep deficiency, it's causes, effects and remedies.

A TRAVAIL OF A MEDICAL STUDENT: SLEEP DEFICIENCY, ITS CAUSES, EFFECTS AND REMEDIES.

 

 

Sleep is an unconscious state from which a person can be aroused by sensory or other stimuli and is essential for human well-being. Sleep is a prerequisite for brain functions, after all, no student prays for a brain disorder.Thus, when it becomes arduous, it is deficient.

PubMed Central® published an article on sleep hygiene practices and their relation to sleep quality in medical students of Qazvin University Of Medical Sciences. And the results of this study showed that 57.5% of students had poor sleep quality and those with improper sleep hygiene practices slept worse.

The term "sleep deficiency" refers to getting too little sleep to maintain healthy levels of alertness during the day.

It is a lack of sleep. And its inadequacy is prevalent among medical students, who consent to the notion that reducing their sleep hours and staying up at night to study and cover up course work is a better option.

 

CAUSES OF SLEEP DEFICIENCY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS.

There are many reasons why medical students do not get enough sleep. These include:

DEMANDING CALENDAR: Medical students are known to have loads of course work, long hours of studying, lots of memorizing and retaining of information alongside hospital posting which would reduce time for sleep. This can affect a student's sleeping pattern.

POOR DIET: Less nutritious foods and poisoned food can cause discomfort during metabolic processes affecting night rest. Again, some medical students consume caffeine and other stimulants which increase circulation of body hormones like adrenaline and cortisol in a bid to study all night. Due to this disruption, drowsiness may occur during the day, along with low performance issues.

SLEEP - WAKE CYCLE: This is also called circadian rhythm which runs continuously throughout the day, controlling our brain's cycle of alertness and tiredness by adapting to variations in ambient light. An irregular cycle would affect medics quality of sleep.

 STRESS: Most medical students experience anxiety brought by mental stress, which would reduce their ability to sleep deeply.

DISORDERS: A defect in any of the structures in the brain responsible for sleep can prevent deep sleep. In addition to environmental problems like climate change.

The struggle to sleep can be decreased with proper understanding of these causes.

EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEFICIENCY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS. 

The consequences of inadequate sleep among medical students include:

POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: Medical Students can experience drowsiness at study time and lack of concentration in class causing a negative impact on learning and memory processing.

DEVELOPMENT OF MOOD DISORDER:Lack of sleep can trigger awkward changes in mood, causing anxiety, apathy along with making a student feel pressured. These changes can eventually lead to depression.

LOW IMMUNITY: Insufficient sleep erodes the body's defenses against infection from bacteria, fungus, and viruses. This would result in a vulnerability to infections and health risk.

  

OBESITY: Research has found that, when we stay awake longer than we should, our body produces less leptin ( a peptide), and we feel a craving for more carbohydrates. So, high carbohydrates consumption can lead to obesity.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: During deep sleep, our blood pressure and heart rate reach lower ranges, providing rest for the circulatory system. So, a deficit in sleep and mental stress can result in a significant rise in blood pressure. Also arterial diameter is increased in response to stress, in the long run it can cause endothelial dysfunction and other circulatory diseases.

MIGRAINES AND HEADACHES: Sleep issues are strongly associated with migraines, tension-type headaches, cluster headaches, and hypnic headaches, according to research.

  REMEDIES FOR SLEEP DEFICIENCY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS.

        

     Medical Students can handle sleep deficiency with the following practices;

   

PRIORITIZE SLEEP: Our brain interprets a lack of sleep as a lack of food. And it is required for all study and examinations, therefore enough time must be set aside for quality sleep. Also it is important to note that a short nap is better than a prolonged sleep time.

REDUCE CAFFEINE INTAKE: Use beverages that don't contain caffeine instead, such water, tea, or smoothies. Also alcohol and other stimulants intake should be avoided.

CREATE A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR SLEEP: As a student, it is necessary to make your bed space free from distractions. This may not be easy for hostelers, but with proper communication amongst your roommates, It is possible. Also avoid using electronic devices for an hour or more before bed.

PRACTICE STRESS MANAGEMENT: One of the first steps to manage stress is to identify your stressor and apply techniques; like meditation, relaxation and the others to tackle it. Generally, as a medical students with tight schedules, managing time is essential.

REGULATE YOUR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM: This is done by getting frequent sunlight exposure during the day to increase alertness at daytime and raise sleepiness at night.

  

 If any of the effects, stated above becomes frequent. Talk with a professional for diagnosis and accurate treatment decisions. 

In conclusion, sleep deficiency among medical students is a growing concern. Therefore, active work must be done to get enough sleep and reduce the detrimental effects on their academic performance and general well - being.