The World All Over is Mukier Than Before

A TV in your home

By Kanayalal Raina

What is the usual scene in most of our homes in the evening? The majority of family members sit around television watching one family soap opera after the other. We tend to go along with the emotions of tear, joy, anger and anxiety as if in real life. Have we ever paused for a while to consider its total effect on our lifestyle? Don't we feel that we have allowed ourselves to be virtually paralysed? We end up wasting a lot of our time which we could have fruitfully used for adding to our knowledge through books or inquiring about each other's welfare for our collective benefit. An American science fiction writer is possibly close to echoing our feelings: "The television, that insidious beast, that Medusa which freezes a billion people to stone every night, staring fixedly, that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little" (Medusa is a Greek mythological character grazing directly upon whom would turn onlookers to stone. Siren too is from Greek mythology whose enchanting music and voices lured sailors only to hit their ships against rocks). Of course, TV's ill-effects on children have for long been a matter of intense debate. Many share the view that TV has changed a child from an irresistible force to an immovable object. It affects their upbringing. They don't like to watch the same show that their old relatives enjoy. Several elderly persons share their trauma over finding their favourite programmes being suddenly changed in the midst of serious watching. This can be very hurting. Does anyone care? Does this not amount to the triumph of machine over people? The story can be the same whether a house has just one TV or two or more. Experts have drawn certain conclusions which we feel should be shared with larger audience. Sitting in front of TV for long hours can lead to (a) obesity; (b) decrease in the quality of food; (c) increase in consumption of cigarettes and liquor; (d) craving for a make-believe world far from the ground realities; (e) withdrawal from social life; (f) consequently, increasing isolation; and , (g) aggression that is often misplaced. American comedian Groucho Marx has his tongue firmly in his cheek: "I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." In sharp contrast there are quite a few among us who think that life will be boring without television. It can enable old people to joyfully pass their time watching the programme they like. Indeed, there are families which have separate TV set for each elderly member.

Why can't they talk instead about their life-long experiences? Why can't they take up any other pastime like playing cards? The question, they say, is irrelevant in this instance. Is television more interesting than the people? TV informs if we care to watch the news channels. It keeps us up-to-date with the latest developments across the globe. Sheer repetition and multiplication of the same event does strain our nerves but that is a different story. In addition, we have TV spreading spiritual aroma and education even while being swayed by movies and stars --- perhaps much more than by any other segment of the population. The moral of the tale is that it is for us to gainfully use the media. We should not only spend less time on the TV gazing but also divide it with care to watch as many programmes as possible instead of being swayed by their just one variety. 

Adolescent sleep disorder

Dr. Vivek Sharma

Sleep is when all the unsorted stuff comes flying out as from a dustbin upset in a high wind.
William Golding : Rincher Martin (1996)
Although the functions of sleep remain unknown. It is clear that the organ responsible for generating sleep and the only organ served by sleep is brain.
Adolescents need 9 hours of sleep. They rarely get that much due to early start school time, inability to fall asleep until late at night, work, social life and homework. Parents may need to adjust their Childs' schedule to allow more sleep. Ultimately they should go to bed and wake up at the same time. This is considered "good sleep hygiene."
Alterations in sleeping and waking patterns affect as many as 70% of all adolescents. These changes can be based on physiological processes. Changing academic demands, expanding social opportunities and altered parent-child relationships - when these problems go unrecognized or untreated, the personal and social consequences can be catastrophic.
Sleep disorders in adolescent
"Delayed sleep phase syndrome - Delayed sleep phase syndrome is common (17% prevalence). These teens often describe feeling wide-awake in the late evening hrs, with a delay in sleep onset until 3 or 4 AM. When they manage to drag themselves to school, their performance is impaired and they may fall asleep in morning classes.
* Pschophysiologic Insomnia - (difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep) In this problem adolescent develops conditioned anxiety around difficulty falling or staying asleep, which leads to frightened arousal and further compromises the ability to sleep.
* Narcolepsy : Features of narcolepsy is repetitive episodes of profound sleepiness that may occur both at rest and during periods of activity (bathing, eating etc.) These "sleep attacks" may be very brief (micro sleep) resulting primarily in lapses in attention and in mood disturbances.
* Restless leg syndrome (RLS) - often described as uncomfortable "creeping" or "crawling" sensation occurring prevailing in the lower limbs and periods of rest or inactivity (e.g. sleep onset), which is relieved by movement. Approximate 80% of patients with RLS also have repetitive rhythmic kicking movement of the lower extremities during sleep called periodic limb movements. The sleeper is usually unaware of the leg movement and of the resulting sleep fragmentation. This may result in significant daytime sleepiness, including inattention and hyperactivity.
Tips for good sleep hygiene in adolescents
* Wake up and go to bed at about the same time every night. Bedtime and wake up time should not differ from school to non-school nights by more than approximately an hour.
* Avoid bright light in the evening, but open blinds or turn on lights as soon as the morning alarm goes off to aid awakening.
* Avoid sleeping in on weekends to "catch-up" on sleep. This makes it more likely that you will have problems falling asleep.
* Don't use sleeping pills to help you sleep unless specifically recommended by the doctor. These can be dangerous and the sleep problems often return when you stop the medicine.
* Exercise regularly. Exercise may help you fall asleep and sleep more deeply.
* Stay away from caffeine, nicotine, cola and chocolates which all stimulates after the noon. Also avoid alcohol, which can disrupt sleep.
* If you take naps, they should not be more than an hour and scheduled in the early to mid afternoon.
* Spend time outside every day. Exposure to sunlight helps to keep your body's internal clock on track.
* Eat regular meals and don't go to bed hungry. A light snack before bed is good idea, eating a full meal in the hour before bed is not.
* Use your bed for sleeping only. Don't study read, listen to music, watch TV etc., on your bed.
* Don't study, watch exciting matches / movies, exercise, or get involved in "energizing" activities just before bed.
* Avoid arguing with friends and peers just before going to bed.
"Make the 30-60 minutes before bed time a quiet or wind down time. Relaxed, calm, enjoyable activities such as reading a book or listening to calm music help your body and mind slow down enough to let you get to sleep.