Dr. Mersch received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and prior to entering the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, was a graduate student (attaining PhD candidate status) in Experimental Pathology at USC. He attended internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.
What's up with sleep? It may seem like a waste
of time when you've got so much you want - and need - to do. But sleep can help
you do better in school, stress less, and generally be more pleasant to have
around. Sound good? Now consider some possible effects of not getting enough
sleep:
Feeling angry or depressed
Having trouble learning, remembering, and thinking clearly
Having more accidents
Getting sick more often
Feeling less motivated
Possibly gaining weight
Having lower self-esteem
How much is enough?
Experts say most teens need a little more than nine hours of sleep each
night. Only a tiny number get that much, though. Are you one of the lucky few
who can manage with less? Or are you slipping up on sleep? Here are some ways to
see if you're getting enough:
Just as with adults, the amount of sleep children need varies with both age
and unique needs of the individual. Below are general guidelines for children of
various ages. Should your child be happy and thriving - but need more or fewer
hours of sleep than indicated
- rest assured they will remain healthy.
1 to 4 weeks old: Neonates spend approximately 65% of their daily activity in a
sleep state. Waking time is of short duration and it is rare for a child of this
age to have a "day-night" cycle. Their day-night "clock" is not functional until
6 to 8 weeks of age. Mothers of newborns should use their infant's sleep pattern to
sleep also.
1 to 4 months old: Infants at this early age still sleep 14
to 15 hours a day. Many
begin to develop a day-night cycle during the early weeks of this period. In
addition at this age, many infants have the ability to sleep evening blocks of
5 to 6 hours without interruption; however most will wake for feedings or diaper
changes during the night.
4 to 12 months old: Infants at this age continue to require 14 to 15 hours of sleep
daily. Good news for parents, they do begin to sleep for longer periods at
night. Also, early in this time period, many children benefit from multiple
daytime naps, though there is significant variability between different
infants.
1 to 3 years old: While specialists point out that most
toddlers need about
12 to 14 hours of daily sleep, many may be forced to survive on less. Daycare and
erratically spaced car trips necessary for the needs of older siblings often
deny or disrupt continuous sleep patterns, most often naps.
3 to 6 years old: This age range commonly needs approximately 11
to 12 hours of
sleep per day with younger individuals taking a nap after lunch. Any need for
napping is generally absent by the time a child enters 1st grade.
7 to 12 years old:Younger children in this age range commonly require 10
to 12
hours of sleep each night; pre-teens often receive 9
to 10 hours (though some may
require more).
12 to 18 years old: Middle and high school student lifestyle requirements
(school, after school activities, dinner and finally homework) often reduce the
sleep duration from the recommended 8 to 9 hours to 6 to 8 hours. The various social
network computer websites coupled with cell phone text communication may also
cut into the teenager's sleep time.
Can a lack of sleep impact a child's behavior?
The symptoms of a lack of sleep are often obvious to watchful parents. Some
of these tell-tale signs include:
recurrently falling asleep in the car (excluding young infants);
requiring extreme stimulation and repetitive reminders to get up in the
morning;
behavioral abnormalities such as
excessive emotionalism, aggression, and crankiness; and
an older child's (over
8 years of age) recurrent need for an afternoon nap.
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS or restless legs syndrome) is a common cause for painful legs that typically eases with motion, and becomes worse and more noticeable at rest. This characteristic nighttime worsening can frequently lead to insomnia. Treatment of the symptoms of restless leg syndrome is generally with medication as well as treating any underlying condition causing restless leg syndrome.
A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. Sleep needs vary from individual to individual and change throughout your life. Not getting enough sleep can hurt memory performance, health, and your mood.
Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. Bruxism may be caused by stress or anxiety and often happens during sleep. Symptoms and signs include jaw pain, headache, and abnormalities in your teeth. Treatment may involve practicing stress-management techniques, cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, avoiding gum chewing, training oneself not to grind the teeth, and wearing a mouth guard.
Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases for example, anemia, mono, medications, sleep problems, cancer, anxiety, heart disease, drug abuse, and more. Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease that is causing the fatigue.
Narcolepsy, a chronic disease of the central nervous system causes have not been fully determined. Some theories include abnormalities in hypocretin neurons in the brain or an autoimmune disorder. Symptoms of narcolepsy include excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, disturbed nocturnal sleep, and automatic behavior. Diagnosis of narcolepsy is based on a clinical evaluation, specific questionnaires, sleep logs or diaries, and the results of sleep laboratory tests. Treatments of narcolepsy symptoms include medication and lifestyle changes.
Separation anxiety disorder is a common childhood anxiety disorder that has many causes. Infants, children, older kids and adults can suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety disorder. Common treatment methods include therapy and medications.
Sleepwalking is a condition in which an individual walks or does other activities while asleep. Factors associated with sleepwalking include genetic, environmental, and physiological. Episodes of sleepwalking may include quiet walking to agitated running. Conditions that may have similar symptoms of sleepwalking, but are not include night terrors, confusional arousals, and nocturnal seizures. Treatment of sleepwalking generally include preventative measures. Medication may be prescribed if necessary.
Insomnia is difficulty in falling or staying asleep, the absence of restful sleep, or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is a symptom and not a disease. The most common causes of insomnia are medications, psychological conditions, environmental changes and stressful events. Treatments may include non-drug treatments, over-the-counter medicines, and/or prescription medications.
Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is the accidental passage of urine while asleep. There are two types of bedwetting: primary and secondary. Primary enuresis is bedwetting since infancy, and secondary enuresis is bedwetting after being consistently dry for at least six months.
Nightmares are dreams that cause high anxiety or terror. Nightmares may be a part of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they usually occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. There are several different treatment options for nightmares, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and medications.
A deviate septum is a condition in which the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half (nasal septum) is significantly off center or crooked. The causes of a deviated septum can be congenital, or develop after a trauma or injury to the nose. Symptoms of a deviated septum include nasal congestion, recurrent sinus infections, nosebleeds, headache, facial pain, postnasal drip, snoring, and loud breathing. A deviated septum can be relieved with medications, and if necessary surgery, called a septoplasty.
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep disorder characterized by rhythmic movements of the limbs during sleep. The movements typically involve the legs, but upper extremity movements may also occur. Movements occur periodically throughout the night and can fluctuate in severity from one night to the next. They tend to cluster in episodes that last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. These movements are very different from the normal spasms, called hypnic myoclonia, that we often experience initially while trying to fall asleep.
An EEG, or electroencephalogram, is a test that can help diagnose epilepsy. During an EEG, the electrical signals of the brain are recorded. This electrical activity is detected by electrodes, or sensors, placed on the patient's scalp and transmitted to a polygraph that records the activity.
Electrical signals produced by the brain neurons are picked up by the electrodes and transmitted to a polygraph, where they produce separate graphs on moving paper using an ink writing pen or on a computer screen.
How Do I Prepare For an EEG?
To prepare for your EEG you should:
Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor prior to your procedure.
Wash your hair the night before the test. Do not use hair cream, oils, or spray afterward.
What Happens During the EEG?
During an EEG, you lie down on the examining table or bed while about 20 electrodes are attached to you...