Breathe Well.  Sleep Well.  Live Well.​
良い呼吸.  良い睡眠. 良い暮らし.
THỞ TỐT. NGỦ NGON. SỐNG KHỎE.

Normal Sleep

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The critical importance of sleep to human development and health has rapidly expanded over the past decade.
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Normative data is now available and we recognize that sleep duration and quality changes from infancy through old age.

In general, for sleep to regenerative and restorative to the brain and body, the quality, timing, and quantity of sleep must be considered.
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A normal "ultradian rhythm" where all stages of sleep including REM sleep are important to determinants of the quality of a person's sleep. 

​Disruptions to this ultradian rhythm (also known as "sleep fragmentation") results in physiologic and neurologic impairment of daytime functioning in both children and adults. ​

​Disruptions to this ultradian rhythm (also known as "sleep fragmentation") results in physiologic and neurologic impairment of daytime functioning in both children and adults. ​


​When sleep problems are correctly identified and addressed, children and adults not only get more sleep, they get better quality sleep which results in more alertness along with better learning and memory abilities.  

​Thus, the optimization in brain functions through better sleep are essential to getting more life in our days.

A comprehensive evaluation of sleep health always starts with asking the right question.

Fig. 1  Normal Sleep and Aging

Fig. 2  Ultradian Rhythm and Aging

Fig. 4  Sleep Disordered Breathing and Aging


​Insomnia & Excessive Sleepiness

John Saito, MD FAAP FCCP
Board Certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Pulmonary, and Sleep Medicine

Excessive Sleepiness

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Sleep should a be a restorative state where the body and mind recovers from the wear and tear of life. 

The amount of sleep along with the quality our sleep are important elements to healthy sleep.   

When we don't or can't get enough sleep for any reasons, we suffer negative physical, cognitive, emotional, and social effects of sleep deprivation.

Studies have shown significant cognitive deterioration in those with acute and chronic sleep deprivation.  

The adjacent graph shows poor performance (higher score) in those with total sleep deprivation (0 hr TIB) on psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) after 2 days without sleep. 

Interestingly, those  who had only 4 hours of sleep (4 hr TIB) nightly  over the a 2 week period performed just as poorly as those who did not have any  sleep for 2 nights.
 Unfortunately, the sleep sufferer is often the last person to appreciate the negative effects of sleep deprivation. 

As an example, in the study above, when asked how they thought they did on their test after 4 hours of sleep restriction nightly for 2 weeks, despite their performance degradation, many of the subjects in the study group did not appreciate the deterioration.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is one neurocognitive sign of sleep deprivation.  

Take a simple screening questionnaire below to assess the level of your sleepiness:

Insomnia


​​Danger: Sleep Aid Usage and Sleep Apnea
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Home Sleep Oximetry Study Comparison 
No Sleep Aid Night vs. Sleep Aid Night

Insomnia

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Can't fall asleep?
Can't stay asleep?
Suffering from unrefreshing sleep?

You or your child may have INSOMNIA.

Insomnia affects all age groups and as much as 35% of the general population are affected by it. 
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The incidence of insomnia tends to increase with age and affects women more often than men

Individuals predisposed and/or at risk for insomnia due to medical problems may encounter precipitating factors that can cause their insomnia to flare up. 

If insomnia is not addressed and perpetuating factors are not recognized and resolved, the acute insomnia may develop into chronic insomnia which can lead to further cognitive, emotional, and physical impairment.