Sleep Disorders

It is estimated that a person needs between 6 and 10 hours of sleep each night for a good performance during the day. But when it steals time from sleep, the accumulated deficit: an hour and half sleep less than necessary is enough to reduce glare by 33 percent.

"Debt rest is remembered by the brain for several weeks," said Dement. "This may have direct effects on motor function and intelligence." In a study conducted by the scientist, 215 volunteers were restricted to only 4 hours of sleep daily for two weeks. His performance proved to be the same as those who were awake continuously for 72 hours.

In a recent study published in The Lancet, British researchers warned that the shortage of sleep has harmful effects on sugar metabolism and endocrine function, often seen as part of normal aging. Persistent sleep debt could then increase the severity of chronic conditions associated with advancing age.

Risk Factors

• Problems falling asleep or staying asleep at night or staying awake during the day, may have different causes:
• Use of stimulants such as alcohol, chocolate, coffee, tea or mate hours before bedtime
• Psychological disorders, stress, anxiety, emotional and economic problems
• Use of medications to treat
• Odors from falls, bumps or arthritis

To determine the root cause and possible treatment, specific studies of sleep. "There is a growing demand as the polysomnogram studies," says White, who also chairs the Latin American Society of Sleep. "We quote the patient for a while before the time usually goes to sleep, and connect it to an electroencephalogram during the duration of nocturnal rest. The study yields data on heart rate and respiratory muscle activity, among other factors. "We can detect, for example, cases of sleep apnea, which are referred to an otolaryngologist," says White.