Study of Sleep Health in Homeless Population of Gurugram

Abstract

Sleep is generally defined as a rapidly reversible state of immobility and greatly reduced sensory responsiveness. According to a simple behavioural definition, sleep is a reversible behavioural state of perception disengagement from unresponsiveness to the environment. Seigel states that an important criterion is that sleep is homeostatically regulated, lost sleep increases drive to sleep and consequent sleep rebound (2 7). Inspite of growing knowledge of sleep, definition and functions of sleep remain unclear. newlineIndividual sleep needs vary, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends that the average adult should sleep 7 or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health, and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) provides similar consensus recommendations of 7 to 9 hours of sleep for adults (1). AASM recommends that children get the following amounts of sleep on a regular basis to promote optimal health, daytime alertness and school performance: Infants should sleep 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours (including naps), children 1 to 2 years of age should sleep 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours (including naps). Children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps) and 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours (1,8) and 7 to 8 hours of sleep for older adults (1). newlineSleep is classified into two broad types: non-rapid eye movement (non-REM or NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep by Rechtschaffen and Kales which were updated later by AASM in 2007. According to Rechtschaffen and Kales, NREM sleep is divided into four stages (stage 1, 2, 3, and 4) based on electroencephalography (EEG) criteria. Stages 1 and 2 of NREM are characterized by decreased electromyography (EMG) amplitude and EEG waves are of alpha frequency (8-13 Hz). The EEG of stage 2 also consists of K-complexes and sleep spindles. This stage characterizes the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Stage 1 usually lasts 1-7 minutes in the initial cycle and is easily disrupted by noise.