Sleep deprivation can build up

In the United States, sleep deprivation is now considered a public health epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that 50 million to 70 million people are affected by disorders of sleep or wakefulness.

When a person gets less sleep than he or she needs, over time, that deprivation builds up and can cause serious problems.

6 signs of sleep deprivation

The signs of sleep deprivation can range from mildly annoying to serious, affecting just one person, or the lives of many. Some of the signs that there’s a sleep issue going on include the following:

1. Lack of enjoyment in activities that one usually finds enjoyable.
2. Difficulty in communicating clearly
3. Sleepiness during daily activities.
4. Slow reaction times.
5. Trouble with decision making.
6. Irritability and anger.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that adults, including the elderly, get between 7-8 hours of sleep, while teenagers need approximately 9-10 hours of sleep each night. School-aged children need at least 10 hours a day. The amount of sleep that an individual requires varies, depending on factors like age, activity level, and other health issues.

5 effects of Sleep Deprivation

Over time, occasional bad sleep and continued poor sleep can build up, and affect life in some severe ways. These include:

1. Chronically sleep-deprived individuals are at risk of weight gain, which can lead to physical issues and unhappiness in general;

2. Hormone levels can be disrupted, particularly the stress hormone cortisol, and the appetite-regulating hormone, leptin;

3. Weakened immunity to illness;

4. Decreased alertness and reaction time can lead to accidents, for individuals who are driving, or just going about their day. WebMD notes that getting just 1.5 hours less sleep than needed can lead to a 32 percent reduction in alertness.

5. Increased mortality risk for those adults who get less than six hours of sleep each night. WebMD also reports that sleep is a bigger risk factor for early death than smoking or high blood pressure.

The bottom line is that getting enough sleep is important to living a healthy and productive life. Unplugging from the ever-connected society and putting off TV time can go a long way toward helping individuals get more sleep.