Sunday School Lesson 45
HEALTHY SLEEP PATTERNS
MEMORY VERSE: “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.” – Acts 20:9
BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 6:9-11
INTRODUCTION: Healthy sleep patterns is a phenomenon that captures the nature of sleep in humans, the associated disorders and remedies. In this context, it is important to have the knowledge of how much or how well we sleep and deal with any lifestyle habits that run contrary to proper sleeping habits. We shall therefore consider the stages and spectrum of sleep as well as some sleep disorders in this study.
LESSON OUTLINES
- Stages And Spectrum of Sleep
- Sleep Disorders
1. STAGES AND SPECTRUM OF SLEEP
Sleep can be in stages. It starts from slumbering or dozing (Matthew 25:1-5). Sleep (Proverbs 3:24), Deep sleep (Genesis 2:21-23; Job 4:13), sleep of death or Coma (Psalm 13:3; Jeremiah 51:57), Death (John 1:11-14).
Physically, the amount of sleep you need varies significantly over the course of your lifetime. It depends on your age and activity-level as well as your general health and lifestyle habits. However, on a sleep spectrum (scale), one can have lack/shortage of sleep (Daniel 6:18), moderate sleep (Ecclesiastes 6:12) or excessive sleep (Acts 20:9). If one does not sleep moderately, it could be as a result of a lifestyle habit (Proverbs 6:9-10;19:15; 20:13) or sleep disorder.
2. SLEEP DISORDERS
Sleep disorder varies. Insomnia’ is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so. Sleep deprivation occurs when an individual gets less sleep than they need to feel awake and alert. Ongoing lack of sleep can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, emotional difficulties, poor job performance, obesity, risk of heart disease (stroke) and a lowered perception of quality of life.
Oversleeping is called hypersomnia or “long sleeping”. People with hypersomnia might require as many as 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night to feel their best. But Oversleeping has been linked to a host of medical problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and increased risk of death.
Sleep apnea is a temporary cessation of breathing during sleep. It is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea.
Sleep paralysis occurs when your mind is conscious but you are unable to move your body especially when you are in the process of waking up.
Sleep-walking or talking loud while sleeping is another sleep challenge especially in adults. Anyone with sleep challenge should pray, seek professional counsel and change his/her lifestyle habits.
CONCLUSION: Like in every other area of life, sleep should also be in moderation.