Reasons why young people lose sleep

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Bui Ngoc Phuong Hoa - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital
Insomnia is a syndrome with many causes. Previously, the disease was common in the elderly, especially from 60 years old. However, recently, insomnia syndrome gradually appears more in younger people.

1. Causes of insomnia in young people

For young people, the cause of insomnia is often due to:
Work pressure, study Modern life forces young people to rush into study and work. The pressure from the exam, the deadline, ... makes the nervous system always in a state of excitement. This has a huge impact on sleep.
"Addiction" to technology devices - the leading cause of insomnia in young people Young people have the habit of using computers, phones... before going to bed. Phone and computer waves are the cause of damage to the nervous system, eye pain, eye strain... leading to insomnia, difficulty sleeping.
Bedroom space The air in the sleeping room lacks the necessary amount of oxygen, leading to suffocation and insomnia in young people.
Eating habits The habit of eating too much before going to bed will make us lose sleep because the body works harder to digest the amount of food that has been loaded.
Use of stimulants Stimulants such as coffee, tea, and cigarettes are more and more popular in the lives of young people. Substances such as nicotine, caffeine in these drinks make the brain excited, alert and do not have the feeling of wanting to sleep. Then, sleep will be disrupted physiological time and cause insomnia.
Imbalance of excitement and inhibition Young people have an active life, so the schedule is not fixed. The habits of eating, studying, resting, and sleeping are not scientific, not according to biological time, causing hormone disturbances. This causes insomnia in young people.
In addition, insomnia in young people is caused by physical diseases. Nervous diseases, asthenia, allergic diseases, bone and joint diseases... can affect nerves and cause insomnia.

2. The dangers of sleep disorders in young people

Lack of sleep causes extremely serious effects on both your physical and mental. When sleep loss, the body will suffer the following consequences:
High blood pressure Interrupted sleep will cause stress. The body responds to these stresses by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. If prolonged, sleep loss will cause chronic hypertension.
Marital Threats Some studies have shown that sharing a bed with someone with insomnia can be detrimental to a marriage. Irritability, psychological disorders caused by insomnia can cause depression, anxiety for partners and even conflicts in marriage.
Depression Depression among young people is increasing rapidly and becoming more complicated. One of the causes of this condition is lack of sleep. A sleepless night makes you cranky the next morning. Finally, chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of depression.
Brain imaging shows that sleep loss can increase activity in the brain's emotional centers, thereby causing mental disorders. Some experts believe that just one night of sleep deprivation changes brain function, especially in people with anxiety. People who don't sleep for 7-8 hours a day, even without a history of depression, are still more likely to develop depression if sleep is not guaranteed.

If sleep is disrupted, the brain can spend very little time in REM (the deep sleep and dreaming phase). This state is extremely necessary, helping the mind to rest while sleeping. As a result, people feel sluggish and have difficulty performing tasks and remembering. People who get REM sleep often have a better sense of cognition, a better sense of well-being. Since then, the mood has also improved significantly. On the contrary, sleep loss distracts, reduces work performance.
Risk of weight gain and cancer due to insomnia Lack of sleep slows down the metabolism, so it increases blood sugar. This increases the risk of obesity. Moreover, according to health experts, sleep deprivation is the cause of unhealthy food choices. This is due to blurred vision of food in the center of the brain in people with insomnia. When sleep is deficient, people tend to seek out poor quality foods and consume these foods.
Insomnia also increases the risk of cancer. A 2008 UK study found that women who slept less than 6 hours a day had a higher risk of breast cancer. Another study at Harvard Medical School found that sleeping less than 6 hours a night increased the risk of colorectal cancer. The scientific explanation is that the hormone melatonin produced during sleep is extremely important. This hormone can fight the growth of tumor cells. With sleep deprivation, this hormone is greatly reduced and increases the risk of cancer.

3. Where to check for sleep disorders?

Mental Health Clinic - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital with the function of examining, consulting and outpatient treatment of psychological and health problems, including sleep disorders. With modern equipment, Vinmec Mental Health Clinic is currently cooperating with experienced professors and experts:
MSc. Doctor Nguyen Van Phi - Psychologist, Vinmec Times City International Hospital: with 7 years of experience working as a lecturer in Psychiatry - Hanoi Medical University, Doctor Psychiatrist at Hanoi Medical University Hospital & Central Geriatric Hospital, and a member of the Vietnam Psychiatric Association. MSc. Dr. Pham Thanh Luan - Psychologist, Vinmec Times City International Hospital: with 5 years of experience in research, examination and treatment of Psychiatric diseases, trained at prestigious universities trust, practice in-depth expertise in the French Republic. MSc. Doctor Nguyen Trong Hien - Psychologist, Vinmec Times City International Hospital: with 6 years as a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry - Hanoi Medical University and Central Geriatric Hospital, together with Dr. Experience in research, examination and treatment of diseases in Psychiatry such as: emotional disorders, stress related disorders and body dysmorphic disorders, developmental disorders in children, adolescents & during childbirth .... Along with the implementation of psychological tests, intensive psychotherapy for diagnosis and treatment, in order to bring the best medical examination and treatment effect.

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