Healthy sleep
A pediatric sleep study is a painless study that is done to determine what is going on when a child is asleep. This study is essential because it helps in determining if one has a sleep disorder or not. The study can be carried out either in a hospital, sleep lab, or at home, depending on where one chooses to carry it out. Different types of sleep disorders can be detected when one undergoes this study. Some of the most common sleep disorders are such as obstructive sleep that is apnea mostly found in children, sleep terrors, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome. During the sleep study, several electrodes and wires are attached in a child’s body when he/she is asleep. The electrodes are used to measure several signals that the child’s body sends when he is sleeping. Some of those signals are such as eye movements, brain wave, stages of sleep, heart rate, breathing, muscle movements, and other signals. The signals recorded by the electrodes are the ones used to determine if the child has a disorder. Hence in the article, we are going to look at the importance of sleep health in children and the connection between sleep health in kids and the attention deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Let start with the importance of sleep health in children. Some of the benefits include:
- Healthy sleep enhances kids’ attention.
According to the study, it is clear that kids who have healthy sleep always have improved attention in the activities that they do. That means for children who sleep for more than 10 hours at an early age of below three years have very minimal chances of getting impulsivity and hyperactivity. Therefore by ensuring that a kid gets to sleep for more than ten hours every day can help in avoiding the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and hence improve the kid’s attention.
- Healthy sleep promotes kids’ growth.
Several kinds of research conducted in a different part of the word indicate that when a child sleep for a more extended period, the growth hormones are always secreted. That means for a kid to have essential growth, adequate sleep is very crucial. Therefore for proper child development, ensure he /she gets sufficient sleep. That is because several studies involving children with deficient growth indicates that those children sleep less deep than ordinary children with a reasonable growth rate.
- Sleep affects the kids’ weight.
Studies reveal that children who sleep for longer hours are less likely to be overweight. When a child becomes overweight at an early age, he/she is very prone to some diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and many more. Therefore according to research, it is essential for a child to sleep for longer hours to avoid being overweight. There is a robust connection between sleep and weight. That is evident because most of the kids after eating they sleep immediately and therefore, kids who do not sleep after eating end up overeating, and this makes him/her prone to becoming obese.
- Sleep is essential for the heart
There is a solid connection between sleep and a healthy heart. Research indicates when a kid who has a better sleep, he/she has very minimal chances of getting cardiovascular diseases as compared to a kid who does not have an adequate sleep. Therefore if you want to lower the risk of your kid having conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, always ensure he/she gets enough sleep of not less than 9 hours. That will help in avoiding such conditions.
- Better sleep helps in beating germs.
When one is sleeping, there is a production of cytokines. Cytokines are a particular type of protein that is very crucial in fighting infections, stress, and other illnesses. When a specific disease has attacked one, the body feels exhausted, and one sleep, when one sleep there is the production of the cytokines which help the body in fighting the diseases and hence one recover from the illness. Therefore sleep to both children and the adults is very crucial in fighting the germs.
- Reduces the risk of injury
Many children walk and play in the compound every time they get a chance. Therefore when the kids are playing, there are very high chances of getting an injury from the places they are performing. Research indicates that children who sleep for less than none hours are very prone to injuries as compared to the ones who sleep for nine hours or more. Therefore according to this research, it is clear that children who get enough sleep are less prone to injuries because their concentration is entirely in their games. Children who sleep for a few hours do not concentrate fully on the activity that they do, and hence, injuries can happen anytime.
- Healthy sleep boost learning.
Studies have revealed that there is a strong connection between sleep and learning. Therefore when a child does not have enough sleep, there are very high chances that the things that you teach him/her, will be tough for him to absorb everything. Research conducted indicated that people who learn and take a short break before continuing to understand whatever they are taught easily and do not forget. That shows that sleep enhances learning in children and as well as in some adults. Therefore the above discussed are the seven importance of healthy sleep to children.
Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder causes, symptoms, treatment, and connection with the kid’s sleep.
ADHD is strongly linked with several problems which result when there is poor sleep. Several kinds of research have been conducted to establish the leading cause of ADHD; some of the several causes of ADHD are:
- A brain disorder or a brain injury which involves damage of the front part of the brain.
- Some toxins such as ones from lead can affect the child’s brain development
- Poor diet
- Brain changes.
- Hereditary
- A chemical imbalance in the brain
The main three symptoms of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are;
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
- Inattention
Inattention is primarily caused by the attention deficit disorder, sleep deprivation, autism, depression drug abuse, anxiety, and many more. Kids with this kind of Attention deficit disorder have the following symptoms;
- Difficult to focus
Focus is the ability to pay attention to a particular task until it is entirely done. Therefore children with inattention do not concentrate fully on anything they are going. They get bored quickly before achieving the task’s objective.
- Do not listen to when one talks
- Can be easily distracted
- Challenging to follow instructions
- Forgetfulness
- Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is the most common symptom of Attention deficit disorder. It is tough to know a child with hyperactivity signs by look. That is why it is essential to do a pediatric sleep study to understand easily. Children with hyperactivity suffer mostly from restless leg syndrome and keep moving from one activity to another with a short period. Some of the symptoms of hyperactivity include
- Excess talks
- Have a short temper when slightly offended by others
- Inability to sit calmly in a given place.
- Do not focus on a single activity for a long time.
- The impulsivity signs and symptoms
Impulsivity is a common symptom of ADHD involves a problem in self-control in children where a child act without aforethought. The child always does what comes in his/her mind without considering the consequences. Children with impulsive signs become moody easily and react to emotions quickly. The symptoms for this can make one view a child as disrespectful. Some of the symptoms are such as
- Frequent guesses
Here the child makes guesswork rather than thinking on the effective way of solving a particular question. For instance, this can be observed when a teacher asks a problem in a class, and a child with this symptom will guess the answer without thinking.
- Always interrupts
A child with impulsivity symptoms will ever intrude on other people’s affairs.
- Keeps emotions
A child with this type of ADD symptoms will ever get angry quickly and maintain some powerful emotions.
- Act vigorously
- The child will respond to several issues without thinking.
How to help a child with Attention Deficit Disorder?
Several ways are used to treat any level symptoms such as the inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. When the symptoms are left untreated, whether, at any level, they can lead to several complications to the current and future life of the kid. Therefore it is essential to look for the best ways to treat ADHD as early as possible. Thus whenever you realize any symptoms that are related to the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, it is essential to seek for guidance from the physician early. The following are the ways a parent can do to help a child with ADHD symptoms.
- Encourage sleep and exercise.
Regular exercise is good therapy for a child with ADHD symptoms because they help in improving the concentration and also enhancing brain growth. More so, the physical activity will make the child feel tired and will prefer sleeping to rest. Therefore sleep and exercise are good therapy for such ADHD symptoms.
- Teach your child
It is essential to teach your child how to socialize with others well without getting angry quickly. Here also you can help the child on how to become a good listener and stop intruding in people’s activities without their knowledge.
- Feed your child with a better meal. It is vital to ensure you eliminate the sugary snacks from the child diet. Giving your son or daughter with healthy meals can be a useful therapy for an attention deficit disorder.
- Some stimulant and non-stimulants medications
The connection between sleep health in kids and ADHD
Several studies have been conducted to determine the connection between child health sleep and ADHD, and all the studies indicated that disturbed sleep due to ADHD is experienced at the age of 12. The ADHD medications are the one which majorly interferes with the sleep. ADHD causes several sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, difficult to fall asleep, anxiety during bedtime, interrupted sleep with several movements, and much more.
Thank you.