Insomnia, a sleep disorder, is characterized by arduousness falling or staying asleep. This disease affects individuals nationally; more than 50 percent of the population undergoes this disease and teenagers and younger children comprise of about 25 percent of the population suffering from insomnia, making it a substantial disease to be indoctrinated about. “Insomnia Facts”) Insomnia presents itself as a compulsory topic in a student’s edification since this subject impacts slumber patterns of the general public and corresponds to three consequential themes unveiled in Biology: Matter and Energy, Models and Systems, and Science and Its Role in Society. The theme of Matter and Energy states the importance of organisms performing complex chemistry (specifically, metabolism and catabolism).
Metabolism, a prominent process occurring continuously in the human body, involves a set of chemical reactions modifying a molecule into another for storage, for immediate use in different reactions, or as a “by-product”. Insomnia affects and displays the function of complex chemistry and metabolism of the human body. When dealing with chronic (long-term) and acute (short-term) insomnia, stress hormones are produced internally through a metabolic disorder. Plesman) Insomnia occurs through inability of the body to produce sufficient amounts of the neurotransmitter, melatonin (regulates sleep and waking cycles), which is created in the pineal gland (a small gland located near the center of the brain) from serotonin-our “feel good” chemical—which, subsequent, is derived from tryptophan (an amino acid found in food). (Plesman) Therefore, the biochemical pathway becomes: TryptophaniSerotonina Melatonin These chemical reactions transform other molecules (ex. Tryptophan modifies serotonin for immediate use in different reactions), exhibiting the metabolic process.
However, since Insomnia lacks this metabolic process necessary to sleep, it generates imbalance in the body. A scientific study disclosed that Insomnia triggered not only impaired glucose tolerance, but revealed that cortisol concentrations as well as sympathetic nervous system activity had elevated in the sleep-deprived condition; the chemical, epinephrine, produces the metabolic effect. (NBCI) If higher activity arisen in the nervous system, the amount of this chemical being produced increases, thus initiating more metabolism to transpire, and showing that more metabolism surges through insomnia.
Insomnia reveals the biological theme of Matter and Energy as metabolism is applied to this “real-world” disorder affecting the population worldwide. This theme of Matter and Energy withal expounds the concept of catabolism and metabolic pathways through insomnia. Catabolism consists of the chemical reactions breaking more immensely colossal molecules into an abundance of minuscule molecules.
An excess of catabolism is characterized biochemically by a disproportion of hormones such as cortisol, these hormones help engender energy for the human body’s needs by producing ATP (which is used through cellular respiration, a metabolic pathway). Lam) Cortisol, created from adrenals, appears during times of fear and stress (two crucial emotions befalling due to Insomnia) and creates severe inflammation causing lack of sleep. (Lam) Through Insomnia, cortisol levels raise due to elevation in the sympathetic nervous system, demonstrating that catabolism occurs continuously through this disorder. Evidently, Insomnia correlates to the biological theme of Matter and Energy, designating the stipulation to inculcate students about this omnipresent topic. Insomnia is present to the biological theme of Systems and Models.
This theme illustrates a concept relating to systems which states that scientists discover incipient information by studying sundry components and properties emerging when certain components collaborate. This can be visually perceived thought insomnia. In this disease, there are assorted “parts” and “properties” collaborating to make the disease function. Lack of brain chemicals transform into a “part” that contributes in the “system” of insomnia. Melatonin, the crucial sleep hormone, descends from serotonin, which originates from tryptophan.
In order to develop serotonin from tryptophan, the necessity to contain an abundance of Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Magnesium, and Vitamin D are crucial since these are the essential coenzymes vital in the conversion—if the brain and human body lacks the capability of producing serotonin, then melatonin cannot be created, effecting the function of insomnia and permitting it to remain in the human body and brain. (Plesman) Another “part” contributing to the system of insomnia is lack of energy.
The biological energy of ATP from normal metabolism of carbohydrates from various foods must provide energy from the conversion. (“Insomnia from Low Blood Sugar”) However, insomnia shows more of a metabolic disorder and would therefore present a problem of hypoglycemia (a deficiency of glucose). Clearly, a system comprises of properties cooperating together to engender a function-parts such as lack of vital chemicals such as tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin, and coenzymes such as Vitamin B6, Magnesium, and Vitamin D along with hypoglycemia, collaborate to sanction insomnia to function correctly.
After studying this system and the sundry components of it, scientists have discovered cognate diseases to insomnia such as melancholy, solicitousness, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), and Rapid-Eye Movement (REM) slumber pattern as well as find remedies to these diseases. After learning about diverse missing brain chemicals, scientists created multi-vitamin and chemical supplements to nourish the human body where deficiency is present. Since insomnia itself proves to be a complex system, it relates the important theme of Systems and Models, and furthermore, should be taught in classrooms.
The theme of Systems and Models describes that models aid comprehension of composite systems. A model known as the “Diathesis-Stress Model” explains predisposing, triggering and perpetuating factors applicable to the expansion and maintenance of insomnia. (Buysse) It permits a cohesive and malleable view of insomnia, including factors alternating from genetic and familial inclination to medical and psychiatric diseases. (Buysse) This model assists in explaining medical enomenology and treatment effects in insomnia, showing that it provides insight as to how a complex system functions and ties into the theme of Systems and Models.
Insomnia plays a tremendous role in the biological theme of Science and Its Role in Society. This disease impacts people throughout the nation and affects their daily lives. PhD physiologist, Dr. Michael Breus explicates that, “there are broader, collective consequences to society that come from insomnia” and goes onto explain that “one study attempted to quantify the economic costs of the sleep disorder, and found that insomnia is associated with an estimated $31 billion in workplace costs resulting from accidents and errors that happen on the job”. Breus) Scientists evaluated participants for insomnia, a condition affecting workplaces. People in workplaces suffering from insomnia failed to perform their jobs to the best of their capabilities in comparison to people without insomniabecause of this, workers perpetuated to make more errors in their labor. The theme of Science and Its Role in Society is optically discerned through this study. Evidently, individuals suffering from insomnia elicited their workplace and the environment around them (this shows that insomnia effects society and corresponds to this biological theme).
The theme of Science and Its Role in Society apprises individuals that ethical concerns limit the application of scientific understanding. This theme is viewed through insomnia. A common remedy for insomnia are Benzodiazepines since they prompt a sedative effect. (“Benzodiazepines and Insomnia”) This drug tampers with brain chemicals. Benzodiazepines amalgamate with the GABA receptor, a neurotransmitter, to increment a chemical instigating somnolence and sedation. (“Benzodiazepines and Insomnia”) However, these drugs raise ethical questions which obviate assimilating cognizance about the authentic disease itself.
In order to maximize benefits and minimize harm, medicos and verbalize laws recommend and require these drugs for short term utilization (“Benzodiazepines and Insomnia”). This ceases scientists from completely understanding the disease, and if it could be remedied perpetually with Benzodiazepines. Since this connects to the theme of Science and Its Role in Society (as ethical concerns thwart the application of scientific understanding, which is seen with the dilemma of the usage of these drugs), it should be edified in school classrooms.
Insomnia shows itself as an obligatory topic in a student’s inculcation since this subject impacts individuals nationwide and correlates to three major themes exposed in biology. The theme of Matter and Energy are expressed through two different process found in insomniametabolism and catabolism. The theme of Systems and Models plays a sizably voluminous role in insomnia; “parts” such as lack of brain chemicals and hypoglycemia contribute to the “system” of insomnia as diverse models were later engendered to further comprehend this disease.
Lastly, the theme of Science and Its Role in Society was cognate to insomnia since this disease impacted individuals inhabiting sundry places and remedies for this disease brought up ethical concerns. Overall, insomnia must be presented in a student’s edification as it includes the three most paramount themes revealed in biology: Matter and Energy, Systems and Models, and Science and Its Role in Society.
