It is a matter of common experience that there are striking difference in the sleeping habit of two different aged persons. Being a student of Biology, I tried to investigate the basis of such differences. On consulting my biology teacher, I came to know that these different behaviours arises mainly due to difference in age and then due to environmental conditions and society. He also advised me to survey a population and to collect sleeping habits of different aged persons and I have done so.
Sleep is define as a period of rest during which the organism loses awareness of his or her surroundings. When a organism loses awareness of his or her surroundings. When a person falls asleep, decreases and muscles relax. The rate of heart beat and the so the pulse rate also slows down. The person gradually becomes unaware of what is happening around.
Sleeplessness is the cause of a number of problems like short temper, periods of hallucinations, day dreaming, impaired seeing and hearing abilities, loss of will power and determination etc. Sleep restores energy to the body, particularly to the brain and nervous system. Slow wake sleep helps to restore the control of brain and nervous over the muscles, glands and other body parts, while sleep helps in maintaining mental activities like hearing, reasoning etc.
Scientists study sleep with an instrument known as electroencephalography which measures the electrical waves released by the brain at the rate of ten waves during the first two or three hours of a period of sleep. This is called as a period of SLOW WAVE SLEEP, during which mental activities slow down but do not stop. During sleeping period, brain sends small but fast waves at intervals. This is period of fast brain activity and is called a DREAMING SLEEP OR REM SLEEP (rapid eye movement sleep) because during this period, the sleeper's eyes move rapidly as if it is watching the events of a dream. Its period is about 3-5 hours.
1. Period of Sleep :-
Most of the adult healthy man sleep about 7 to 8:30 hours every night. Some people especially those who work at night, sleep during day time. Duration of sleep required in different kinds of persons. Older persons need less sleeping hours than the adult persons. New born babies sleep for brief periods throughout the day & night by the age of 2 to 3 months, babies have learnt to sleep throughout the night though they nap for periods day time also. By the age of 6 months, most children gave up the day time naps. A 4 years old child will sleep for an average of 10 to 14 hours a day, and a 10 years old child needs only 9 to 12 hours of sleep in a day.
2. Style of Sleep :-
Persons of different age groups show different styles of sleeping. Some persons sleep with their face covered while others sleep keeping their face uncovered. Some persons sleep straight in a relaxed manner on their stomach. Position of head while sleeping is different in different persons.
3. Snoring :-
It is a rough broken sound made during sleep. Almost everyone snores occasionally, but men usually snores more often than women & children snoring. The rushing air dries up the soft mouth tissues which also start vibrating at a fast speed. This make the snoring louder.
4. Sleeping Walking :-
It is a condition during which a partly awakened sleeper performs various physical activities and is called as SOMNAMBULISM. Most of sleep walker mostly sit up in bed or stand near it. Some actually walk about, but a few may performs more complicated actions. Walking while sleeping is an abnormal behaviour and is found very rarely. After awakening most sleep walker do not repeat their activities. Sleep welding occurs more commonly among children than the adults.
5. Smoking :-
Different people have different habit and like to do different things before going ot sleep. Some people sleep after reading newspapers or magazines, some after studying, some taking a stroll, some after taking mild & some after smoking. This become a habit.
6. Murmuring :-
The people whose mind is always in depression usually murmur while sleeping.
7. Drugs :-
Some people, who suffers from hyper tension, will find it difficult to have even a weak of sleep, start taking various tranquilizers. In the beginning they feel relaxed, because they have sound sleep but soon become addicted to the drugs. In the process they have to increase the dose of tranquilizer.
8. Bed Tea :-
Some people are habitual of taking bed tea. This group consists mostly of lazy people (After surveying many people it is noticed that people hesitate to accept that they take bed tea). So instead of bed tea, habit of taking tea every morning after brushing the teeth is taken for survey.