Sleep Deprivation - Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Not Having Enough Sleep Effects Both Mental and Physical Health
Feb 10, 2009
Without necessary sleep, human life cannot properly function. The amount of sleep people get affects their chances of living longer and more productively.
Most Vital Stage of Sleep
While researchers have identified individuals going through five different phases of sleep, stage four is the most significant. In this time period, the body restores vital tissue and repairs many minor ailments. While sleeping in this stage your level of hormones rise. The increase in hormones is very important for growth and restoration of both physical and mental capabilities (Caldwell 8, 9).
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation has become a major problem with Americans of all ages. Over 100 million Americans today suffer from a lack of sleep (Kowalski 1). This has been an ongoing problem throughout the centuries. According to the National Institute of Health, getting fewer than six hours of sleep per night is compromising to your health and welfare (Kaukas 1). Researchers believe that most adults need a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep (Kaukas 1).
The amount of time a person sleeps will affect his chances of living a longer life. The American Cancer Society conducted a study of over one million subjects who had engaged in sleep deprivation. This study found that men who slept fewer than 4 hours a day lived longer than those who slept between 7 and 8 hours per day. However, the study also showed that any deprivation from the usual sleep requirement for adults (6 to 8 hours) was accompanied by an increased risk of illness (Caldwell 66).
For a long period of time, experts have been aware that fatigue is a major factor in automobile and industrial accidents. The National Safety Council has recorded evidence that at least 75% of automobile deaths are attributed to alcohol and fatigue. A fatigued person driving a car has a reaction time to accidents that is at least two seconds slower than a rested person (Caldwell 38). While an exhausted person might compensate for slowed reactions by driving more carefully, there is no way to compensate when the reaction time is constantly shifting to different stimulus on the highway. All of these safety studies show that having adequate sleep is a major concern in keeping accidents in this country to a reasonable minimum.
A combination of diet and exercise is usually the method of choice for people who want to control their weight (Kowalski 1). Strange as it might sound, there’s also a growing body of evidence to show that better sleep habits are instrumental to the success of any weight loss plan. Sleep loss disrupts a series of complex and interwoven metabolic and hormonal processes. This can make weight loss far more difficult than it needs to be (Wiley 178, 179). What’s most important is to recognize that a healthy lifestyle involves balancing work and rest in a way that suits you. Getting enough sleep and relaxation is just as important as what you eat and how you exercise.
Most physicians and psychologists agree that adequate sleeping habits are essential to human development. The American people need to be aware of the dangers of sleep deprivation, and the methods of curbing those dangers.
References:
Caldwell, Paul. Sleep: Everything You Need To Know. Willowdale, Ontario: Firefly Books, 1997.
Kaukas, Dick. “Missing Sleep Can Cause Problems.” The Courier Journal. Oct. 1998, health ed.: 1.
Kowalski, Kathiann. “Are You Sleep Deprived?” Odyssey. 1 Jan 2002. EBSCO: Apr. 2003.
Wiley, T.S., and Bent Formby. Lights Out. New York: Pocket Books, 2000.
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