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BEWARE OF INSOMNIA IN CHILDREN!
Stating that the pandemic has also increased sleep problems in children, Dr. said, “However, this problem affects them differently from adults. So they become more hyperactive more than ever, they have a lack of focus,” she said.
Regular and quality sleep children better cognitive function, better psychological health and reduced emotional /behavioral problems of children and adolescents, there are many potential benefits, including the pandemic… but with drawing their attention to major changes in sleep habits, is professor of Neurology. Dr. said, “In the process, they also went to bed later and started getting up later. Therefore, now many of them cannot quickly switch to going to bed earlier and getting up early,” she said, explaining the ways to solve the problems caused by this situation as follows:
– Here are the research results
A large-scale meta-analysis, which included many detailed studies, found that sleep problems in children became widespread during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the study, 54 percent of children, that is, more than half, have sleep disorders. Especially children of school age are experiencing problems such as inability to fall asleep at night, inability to wake up in the morning, short sleep time. As for preschool children, many factors underlie sleep problems. The delayed bedtime during the isolation period at home causes the fear, stress and sadness caused by Covid-19 reflected by parents, a decrease in socialization and an increase in the time spent with technological devices, a decrease in the duration and quality of sleep.
– How to understand it?
Difficulty falling asleep, frequent night waking, sleep terrors, nightmares and night I have trouble sleeping; during the day tiredness and fatigue; irritability, moodiness, aggression, and an increase in emotional behaviors such as constant crying; day and especially at night, increased hyperactivity, and attention deficit and increased forgetfulness; the inability to control impulse reactions observed in children and sudden symptoms such as severe sleep disorder you may have.
– If you have symptoms of ADHD and autism
In school-age children, sleep problems are accompanied by Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and neuro-behavioral disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (OBS). Worldwide, diagnoses of ADHD and OBS in school-age children have increased, but it is worth noting that these symptoms can be caused mainly by sleep disturbance. Because the effects of insomnia in children are quite different from adults. When children are deprived of sleep, they become more hyperactive than usual. They have a lack of focus. But this is due not to their excessive energy, lack of sleep, but, on the contrary, to the fact that they do not get enough sleep. That is why it should not be confused with insomnia, ADHD and autism. If you solve the problem of sleep, these symptoms will also disappear.
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WHAT ARE THE WAYS OF TREATMENT?
– Reduce pandemic-induced anxiety
Research shows that most adults experience psychological complaints such as anxiety, fear, depression, and chronic stress during the pandemic period. This situation is also directly reflected in children. Get help from a therapist for psychological problems of both parents and children in family activities, or taken part, making some decisions (for example, by reducing exposure to news, to discuss issues such as children of the next pandemic welded) the normalization of the inner world of children, in children can reduce the psychological pressure induced pandemic. This, in turn, can help solve sleep problems without taking medication.
– Restrict technology
Uncontrolled use of technological devices has increased during the pandemic. The children spent this time away from school and their friends by connecting to their phones and computers. But the start of schools has not changed these habits. Because technological devices are an important source of dependence. Don’t expect children to stay away by themselves while even you can’t drop your smartphones from your hands. But it is very important to introduce a regulation on the duration of technology use. Especially it is necessary to stay away from these devices for 2 hours before going to sleep, because technological devices suppress the sleep hormone melatonin by the blue light they emit, making it difficult to fall asleep. If you make them spend the last 2 hours before going to sleep reading a book, you can quickly see that they are getting enough sleep.
– Routine the hours of sleep
Find out how much sleep your child needs according to his age, and then set a specific bedtime and wake-up time. For example, a 10-year-old child needs an average of 10 hours of sleep. Even on weekends, even if you have guests or a different situation, make sure that your children follow this routine. In order to be able to adjust the hours of sleep, try to establish order by waking up earlier in the morning and getting him to bed earlier at night.
Eliminate caffeinated foods and drinks
Eliminate caffeinated products such as tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, and chocolate from your children. Caffeine can stay in the body for hours and binds to adenosine, which causes you to feel tired, making you feel energetic even if you are sleepy. Their consumption should be limited only to daylight hours.
– Do regular sports
Although it is difficult for children to be exposed to sunlight in winter, make sure that they are directed to a sport, after-school activity, where they will certainly throw their energy. As soon as you wake up in the morning, make sure that they are exposed to natural light. During periods when they stay at home due to the pandemic, plan games that will allow them to exercise at home.
– Feed correctly
If your children consume too many processed, sugary and carbohydrate products, they cause the stress hormone to increase in the body and the hormone melatonin to be suppressed. Instead, opt for healthier foods, especially in the evening. In addition, selenium, vitamin C, tryptophan, calcium, and vitamin D deficiencies also play a role in sleep problems.
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Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.
Physician's Resume:
Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.
Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.
In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.
Awards:
Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.
Certificates:
Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .
Professional Members:
American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.
Disclaimer:
Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.