Forty Winks & Kids Fitness

Lack of sleep in children may indicate latent health issues.

- Dratish Laddad

KIDS being glued to the screen and playing constantly on the phone, i-pads and video games is certainly a common visual in most households. Though parents may feel rest assured seeing the kids busy, an important aspect to note down is their sleep schedules that is being majorly affected. Spending time on social media platforms are not the only reason why kids fail to catch up on the required amount of sleep, but also staying up late to finish homework or studies is equally responsible.

A disturbed sleep pattern can affect a child's immune system by declining the cells which aid to combat infections and in-turn increases the cells that generate inflammation. A child who follows a proper slumber pattern he receives a better fever response.

DISTRESS SIGNS

Sleeplessness in kids has become a crucial health ailment that needs to be immediately addressed. The current times have witnessed a substantial rise in the number of kids falling prey to lack of sleep. To follow a healthy slumber pattern and to uphold a healthy cognitive and physical health, it is important that kids must sleep for at least 10 to 11 hours.

The major question that worries parents and guardians is how to comprehend if deprived sleep is hampering the child’s development? Some signs that your sleep-deprived child might exhibit are extreme difficulty to fall asleep, excessive snoring while fast asleep, pause in breathing while sleeping, trouble in staying awake during day times, inexplicable fall in daytime performance and in some cases the child might also perform strange events during sleep, like sleepwalking or nightmares.

Paying proper attention to these indications in your child can help in timely diagnosis and will help the child to uphold normal health.