FACTORS AFFECTING

SLEEP

Physical illness

Any illness that causes pain, physical

discomfort (such as difficulty
swallowing), anxiety, or depression can
result in sleep difficulties
Respiratory disease shortness of breath
Coronary heart disease sudden chest pain

Drugs and substances

Various types of drugs affect the pattern

and quality of sleep a person enjoys
Diuretics cause nocturia
Alcohol speeds onset of sleep, awakens

person during night and causes difficulty

returning to sleep
Caffeine prevents person from falling
asleep, may cause a person to awaken
during night

Life-style

The routine a person follows during the

course of a day may influence sleep
patterns
An individual working in a rotating shift

Sleep patterns

The duration of sleep and the time sleep

begins influence succeeding attempts to
fall asleep.

Emotional stress

Emotional stress causes a person to be

tense and often leads to frustration
when sleep does not come

Environment

The environment in which a person

sleeps has a significant influence in the
ability to fall and remain asleep

Exercise and fatigue

A person who is moderately fatigued

usually achieves restful sleep, especially
if the fatigue is the result of enjoyable
work or exercise
Excess fatigue resulting from exhausting
or stressful work can make falling asleep
difficult

Caloric intake

Weight loss or gain influences a

persons sleep pattern
Gain weight sleep periods become longer

with fewer interruptions

Weight loss short and fragmented sleep

SLEEP DISORDERS

Insomnia

Is a symptom of clients with chronic

difficulty falling asleep (initial insomnia),
difficulty remaining asleep (intermittent
insomnia), or inability to go back to
sleep after awakening (terminal
insomnia)

Sleep apnea

Is the cessation of breathing for a time

during sleep
Apnea cessation of airflow through the
nose and mouth for at least 10 seconds

Types of apnea
1.

2.

Obstructive apnea upper airway

becomes blocked and nasal airflow
stops for as long as 30 seconds
Central apnea involves defect on the
brains respiratory center

The impulse to breathe temporarily fails, and

nasal airflow and chest wall movement cease

Narcolepsy

A condition associated with the

complaint of daytime sleepiness with
abnormality of REM sleep
An individual falls asleep at
inappropriate times
May have hallucinations that are almost
real dreams occurring just as the person
falls asleep
Sleep paralysis

Sleep deprivation

Not a true sleep disorder

It is a problem many clients experience
as a result of hospitalization
Sleep deprivation involves decrease in
the amount, quality, and consistency of
sleep

MEASURES TO
PROMOTE SLEEP

Environmental control
Control of noise in the hospital
Close doors to a clients room
Wear rubber-soled shoes; avoid wearing clogs
Turn off bedside equipment not in used such
as oxygen
Avoid abrupt loud noise
Keep necessary conversations at low levels
Turn off television or radio unless client prefers
soft music

Promoting bedtime
rituals

Bedtime rituals used consistently helps

young children avoid attempts to delay
sleeping
Reading children stories, allowing them
to sit on the parents lap while listening
to music, or listening to a childs prayer

Promoting comfort
Comfort measures
Encourage clients to wear loose-fitting
nightwear
Remove any irritants against the clients skin
Offer a massage before sleeping
Administer necessary hygiene measures
Keep bed linen clean and dry
Provide a comfortable mattress
Encourage client to void before hour of sleep