The Dangerous Effects of Sleep Deprivation

You have probably experienced mild sleep deprivation at one time or another. There have been times when you have not had enough sleep - it happens to everyone. But it has proven that sleep deprivation can be a critical problem. Sleep deprivation can lead to a host of different illnesses, including some cancers. There are both physical as well as psychological effects of sleep deprivation.

Sleep Deprivations Studies

Sleep deprivation research have been conducted on those who have suffered these deprivations on a habitual basis. Most of them are college students who want to keep awake to study for exams. In college, sleep deprivation is common around the end of terms, but studies are indicating that it is a lot more harmless than just getting a few dark circles under the eyes. There have been indications that students who have routinely deprived themselves of sleep have experienced a host of problems, including episodes of psychosis.

Physical Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Physical effects of sleep deprivation are often plain. A person who is deprived of sleep feels tired, woozy, and uneasy most of the time. They may have dark circles under their eyes. These are the classic physical signs of sleep deprivation of which we have become accustomed. Still, more serious physical consequences to sleep deprivation are spreaded out than just the idea of someone appearing to be tired. Diabetes, depression, and even cancers are serious diseases can be the results from lack of sleep as sleep deprivation studies indicated. This is due to the disturbance in the hormones that take place when the body does not sleep.

Obesity and Sleep Deprivation Health

Obesity is a common side effect of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation seem to go hand in hand with obesity as many studies indicate that not only does sleep deprivation lead to obesity due to hormone imbalance created , but that obesity can also influence sleep habits. Someone who is obese has more of a chance of getting sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that causes the individual to awaken several times during the night and is often characterized by snoring.

Other physical effects of sleep deprivation include a tardy reaction time. Someone who is tired and not getting enough sleep will not have the same reaction time as someone who is fully rested. A lack of sleep, therefore, can prove to be harmful especially if someone is driving a car or operating heavy machinery. Thousands of accidents, many of them fatal, occur each year due to sleep deprivation and a lack of sufficient reaction time.

Sleep Deprivation while Driving

Sleep deprivation while driving occurs more frequently than people think. Truck drivers are usally under pressure to get a deliveries within a certain amount of time and because of this , they often self deprive themselves of sleep. They take artificial stimulation so that they can stay awake to concentrate at the wheel for longer period of time. Despite the fact that this is illegal and dangerous, some trucking companies look the other way when it comes to their drivers taking on more than one shift. Accidents involving truckers who have fallen asleep when driving due to sleep deprivation and driving occur all over the United States.

Signs of Sleep Deprivation

In addition to those obvious signs of sleep deprivation someone who is deprived of sleep may also be irritable and appear nervous. Their hands may shake due to an imbalance in the central nervous system that happens because of sleep deprivation. people who are suffering from sleep deprivation may exhibit these signs.

Sleep Deprivation and Reaction Time is reduced well.

Sleep deprivation is not only unsafe when it comes to driving, operating heavy machinery or working, but can also lead to a host of physical problems due to the hormonal imbalance that is created when the body is deprived of sleep. If you are not sure if you are getting enough sleep, you should seek out the results of a sleep study. Do your own sleep tracking study at a clinical environment if you feel that you are suffering from sleep deprivation.

Jessical J. is the author of this article on Sleep deprivation health Find more information about Sleep deprivation health here.


Rate This Article:

Online Alarm Clock

Related Articles:

Causes Of Sleep Disorders
Causes of sleep disorders are varied and range from serious neurological problems to simple nightmares. Sleep disorder means any difference in the normal sleep pattern that can be sleeplessness, oversleep or intermittent sleep behaviors. Persistent sleep disorder is considered to be a problem since it affects the daily living pattern and can lead to severe impairments in body and mind. Sleep disorders can be categorized into dysomnias, parasomnias and others, based on the symptoms of the sleep disorder. Some of the common sleep disorders include insomnia, bruxism, sleep apnea, night walking, and snoring. The causes behind sleep disorders are very signifigant since the treatments for the sleep disorders are focused on the cure of underlying ...

Sleep Apnea Causes | Sleep Apnea | Sleep Apnea Zone
Sleep Apnea Causes

Polysomnography: One Tool in Helping in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Stop! and imagine for one moment that your body is being savagely and brutally attacked by chronic pain. This pain is so intense that you become less active.

Advice on Effective Sleep for Good Health
Effective sleep solutions are available to anyone who suffers from any type of sleep disorder. As part of our effective sleep solutions this article will answer some of the questions that you may have.

Sleep Apnea - An Extremely Common and Dangerous Sleep Disorder
Sleep apnea refers to a sleep disorder characterized by the interruption of breathing during sleep, such that respiration stops for ten or more seconds, cutting off valuable oxygen supplies to the brain. This interruption of the body's breathing cycle can recur hundreds of times each night, with potentially fatal results.

Having Trouble Sleeping - Checkout The Sleeptracks Sleep Optimization Program
Until last year I would have done almost anything to solve my sleep problems. For most of my life I had been "one of those people" cursed with insomnia and troubled sleep. I have had sleep problems for about twenty years and needless to say it has affected my whole life. It would take me hours to fall asleep. I would awaken repeatedly every night, and then struggle to get back to sleep: my mind would start its merry-go-round and go on without respite until dawn.


Privacy Policy | Copyright/Trademark Notification