30% of children and adolescents suffer from some sleep disturbance

Few activities require as much time as the dream. Although it seems that nothing is done, sleep is something very important and when it is not done correctly the results are noticed in people. Effects that suffer more children and adolescents than one might think a priori.

Specifically, the Spanish Society of Outpatient Pediatrics and Primary Care, SEPEAP, figure in a 30% the number of children and adolescents who suffer some alteration of the dream. A concern that has centered its XXX Congress where more than 1,000 pediatricians have gathered to treat rest among the youngest and many other issues.


Sleep disturbance: underdiagnosis problems

According to the pediatricians one of the problems in this type of alterations occurs in the diagnosis since many of the pediatricians do not take into account this type of problems when evaluating their patients. In particular, a 20% of primary care physicians does not include in your questionnaire any question about sleep, which results in a underdiagnosis.

This underdiagnosis gives rise to the fact that this alteration of the sleep can not be treated correctly since, since it is not seen by the pediatrician, it can not be referred to the corresponding professional. The break should be taken into account more by primary care physicians according to SEPEAP who says that sleep problems do not receive the importance they should.


 

The dream and behavior of children

Pediatricians express that many of the behavioral problems that parents see in their children are related to sleep disturbances. Specifically, one in five cases derives from a bad break at night. In this sense, it is recommended that when a minor is seen acting in a bad way or a bad-tempered adolescent, their nocturnal schedules are reviewed.

It is also recommended that parents bet on acquiring correct sleep schedules in the first year of life. Sit some good bases it will make children able to sleep autonomously, which according to several studies means that in the future minors will have less possibilities of waking up claiming their father's presence.

Of course, pediatricians warn that you can not pretend that children at early ages and comply with correct sleep schedules. In its first six months, the baby sleeps a total of 17 hours, but it will do it in several cycles of between 3 and 4 hours. It will not be until 7 months when the children get a more continuous rhythm of rest and a continuous night's sleep.


Sleep and rest: combination of several factors

Pediatricians conclude that ultimately the dream is a combination of several factors. The first, the achievement of correct schedules of sleep, the following are the attachment and attitude of the family. If the children live in a quiet environment, where they feel comfortable, their alert level will go down, which will help them to fall asleep more easily when it is time to go to bed.

It is also recommended to parents to bet on a correct sleep hygiene making the following points:

- No television before going to bed It is best to do some relaxing activity such as a bath, reading a book or just talking on the couch. Mobile phones, tablets and computers are also prohibited.

- Light dinner. Heavy digestion can end up causing nightmares or making it impossible to fall asleep. However, a slight one favors rest very much.

- Fixed hours. The biological clock of the children will adapt to fixed schedules and will allow that one hour arrives, the minor already feels sleepy and has easier to fall asleep.

- Forget about long naps. Providing more rest than necessary to the body at the time of nap, will make it more difficult for the child to fall asleep at the time of going to bed.

Damián Montero

Video: What would happen if you didn’t sleep? - Claudia Aguirre


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