Sleep in adolescence: understand the changes in sleep rhythm of this phase

Sleep is a fundamental physiological activity for the health and development (growth and learning) of the human being. As adolescence is a phase of great importance with regard to these two factors, attention to this time of day must be redoubled. According to the CDC, ideal sleep time for young people is around nine o'clock.

But it is precisely at this stage that we perceive changes in sleep rhythm, as if the biological clock works differently. And it does work. Changes in sleep patterns have several physiological and social causes. As you enter adolescence, hormonal changes cause sleep to come a little later pushing consequently the awakening to later. The melatonin produced by the pineal gland and highly involved in the sleep cycle will have its peak of excretion later, delaying the sleep sensation in the young. Its production is also affected by exposure to light, which happens when, for example, electronic gadgets are used before bedtime. Coinciding with this physiological change, social changes appear, that is, due to the onset of a more intense social life adolescents tend to sleep later. At the same time, the school increases its demand, increasing the day-to-day workload.

The experiences of adolescence, with its discoveries and frustrations, the increasing demand of responsibility on the part of the schools and of the society and the hormonal variations physiological changes are already reason enough for the mood changes experienced in this phase of life. But this feature becomes much more evident in sleep-deprived adolescents.

In 2009 a British school tested the relationship between school outcomes and teenager sleep deprivation and started classes at ten o'clock (usually they start at nine o'clock in this country). The result was that school dropouts dropped and the ability to memorize increased. The students also had less moodiness and drowsiness. In Brazil the classes begin much earlier, around seven thirty in the morning, disrespecting this normal cycle of the adolescent's sleep. Apparently the learning capacity increases from ten o'clock in the morning, when the students are more awake and able to absorb the information passed by their teachers.

In addition to the question of learning and humor, it is observed in young people with lack of hours of sleep, higher rates of metabolic diseases such as overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes, lower than expected height growth and psychological disorders.

The tips for a restful and restful sleep that stimulates health and development in any are:

• Have regular sleeping and wake-up times, avoiding large variations on weekends
• Go to bed only at bedtime, avoiding other activities in bed, such as games, access to social networks , television
• Have a suitable sleeping environment: clean, dark, no noise and comfortable
• Do not use alcohol or coffee, certain teas and soft drinks nearby imo at bedtime
• Do not use medicines to sleep without medical advice
• If you have had little sleep on previous nights, avoid sleeping by day
• Have dinner moderately at regular and adequate times
• the bed
• Perform restful and relaxing activities preparatory to sleep
• Be active physically and mentally, but avoid physical activity after 7 pm

Genetic mapping detects disease, but must be done in conjunction with professional counseling

Knowing the genetic structure of the human body and understanding how subtle changes (sometimes an out-of-place letter) can determine the color of the eyes or change the flow of a life was a theme of science fiction that has come to fruition and is quickly incorporated into the medical routine. Genetic mapping dramatically assists in the very early diagnosis of a health condition, and can provide solid evidence that an inherited disease is linked to one or more genes.

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Keep an eye on weight gain during pregnancy

Gaining weight in pregnancy is important, but with caution and follow-up, as the limits to maintain the health of the mother and are well defined and the care begins before pregnancy. This is because the pre-gestational weight, the Body Mass Index (the ratio in which weight is divided by the squared height) of the mother and the gained pounds during the nine months are factors that influence the baby's birth weight and mother's future health.

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