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Sleep Deprivation - What Are The
Consequences?
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Sleep is probably best described
as the loss of awareness of what is happening around us. The
brain itself never sleeps and still continues to function,
although the brainwave rhythms are altered and gradually slow as
we approach the deeper stages of sleep.
Sleep deprivation exists when we are not getting the sleep we
need. This varies from person to person, the average adult
requires six to nine hours per night, but some do well on much
less. Kids and teenagers require more sleep than adults.
If we feel energetic during the day and do not experience
daytime sleepiness, then we are probably receiving adequate
sleep.
Public awareness of fitness and nutrition has grown over the
past few years but unfortunately little is known about the very
important subject of sleep disorders. They are not included in
general medical training either so the lack of knowledge is
perpetuated.
If drowsiness were the sole disadvantage of sleep deprivation,
it would not be such a serious condition. Unfortunately the
consequences are many and some of them quite worrying. There are
both behavioral and physical symptoms.
Why do we suffer with sleep deprivation? Sometimes its because
we're so busy that we just don't have sufficient time to get the
rest we need. Or maybe its because we have insomnia or one of
the other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or restless legs
syndrome. Or we may be a shift worker who is forced to sleep
during the day and our sleep is not restful. Whatever the reason
is, if we don't have adequate sleep we create a "sleep debt"
which leads to some or all of the symptoms shown below.
These range from the inconvenient to the downright dangerous so
if you can see yourself in the symptoms below, its worth trying
to establish what is causing your sleep deprivation we can then
work out and how to address it.
Stress and anxiety
This can be a vicious cycle as while stress can actually cause
our lack of sleep, it is also a result of it. Fortunately it can
be dealt with using the right procedures. We'll look at the
possibilities and find out what's causing it and the correct
solution for you.
Anger, irritability and depression.
These are all stress related and they can cause relationship and
social problems. The National Sleep Foundation has said that
anger due to sleep deprivation may be one of the contributing
factors to road rage. Depression, while remaining a complex
condition may be described as anger turned inwards. One answer
to these problems may simply be more or better sleep.
Lack of focus and difficulty in concentrating.
The brain looses function as a result of sleep deprivation.
Students in particular fit into this category as learning
requires intense concentration. A study has found that from the
age of puberty, the need for sleep increases until adulthood.
Short term memory loss Memory is affected by lack of sleep, this
is also a problem for those trying to study and for those
learning new job skills.
Impaired ability to drive a motor vehicle.
Two reasons for this - one is because concentration is affected,
the second because the danger of falling asleep at the wheel is
high. The same goes for anyone who is in charge of machinery in
the workplace. Sleep deprivation can also cause blurring of
peripheral vision. Altogether quite a deadly cocktail. The
danger has been assessed as being close to that of someone who
is affected by alcohol!
Suppression of the immune system.
This one is a worry as it leaves us vulnerable to every
infection that happens to be around at the time. People who are
sleep deprived get more colds and flu than those that are not.
Lack of sleep can make you sick!
Probably enough reasons there to convince us to take action to
change our sleeping habits! If lack of time is keeping us up
late, something else may have to be sacrificed to make sure we
get the rest we need. If a sleep disorder is making your life a
misery, don't despair! There is always something we can do and
knowledge on the subject is improving all the time. |
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