Sleep Deprivation

Nodding off at work or in front of the TV? 

Getting too little sleep can quickly lead to a condition called sleep deprivation, when daytime functioning becomes sub par. And that, in turn, can set off a cascade of health and safety issues. 

The amount of sleep someone needs varies person to person and changes with age. Adolescents, for instance, need at least 8.5 to 9.5 hours a night, whereas adults need less, typically 7 to 9 hours.  

But the fast-paced lifestyle of modern society and other factors can prevent people from getting the required amount of sleep, no matter their age. Common causes of sleep deprivation include: 

• Sleep disorders
• Not allowing enough time for sleep
• Awakening repeatedly due to noise
• Anxiety or depression
• Working at night
• Traveling across time zones
• Medical conditions that cause pain or difficulty breathing 

Problems Caused by Lack of Sleep

Lack of sleep has been shown to lead to physical and mental health problems such as depression, impaired thinking, inability to handle stress or control emotions, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.  

Drowsiness caused by lack of sleep can be dangerous in other ways, too, as it can contribute to traffic, workplace and other types of accidents. And people who don't get enough sleep may be so tired during the day that they struggle through normal job and social activities, lessening the quality of their lives. 

In fact, some experts believe that the societal impact of sleep deprivation should be recognized as being as serious as that of alcoholism. 

Signs of sleep deprivation may include: 

• A consistent lack of sleep or poor quality sleep.
• Fighting to remain awake when you're still (such as when reading or watching television).
• Having trouble  paying attention, whether at school, at work or at home.
• People often saying that you are sleepy.
• Memory problems.
• Slow responses.
• Emotional instability.
• Needing to take a nap on most days.