The numbers prove the sentiment. Jane Brody of the New York Times reports that between 1960 and 2010, the average amount of sleep each night for adults dropped from more than 8 hours of sleep to 6.5 hours. With distractions like work and smartphones, experts predict that the trends will continue. It's easy to believe, as 90% of 18-29 year olds sleep with their smartphone.
It might be fun and/or cool to stay up late and undermine your sleep habits, but this isn't something to be taken lightly. There are plenty of ways in which a lack of sleep can come back to haunt you - quite literally, even.
The Initial Effects of Sleep Deprivation
It's tough to look at the facts of sleep deprivation in the face. Ironically, that's actually what you'll be doing if you don't get enough sleep.
A small study in the journal Sleep found that the effects could be seen in people's facial appearance. Those who were sleep-deprived had pale skin, under-eye circles, and other signs that made it evident that they had little sleep. A study commissioned by Estée Lauder adds that sleep deprivation reduces skin health and accelerates skin aging, and the connections to acne are known quite well.
One of the most common areas that is affected is awareness, concentration, and performance is day-to-day life. Did you know that Chernobyl, Challenger, Bhopal, and Exxon Valdez disasters were caused by lack of sleep? In a National Sleep Foundation poll, 29% either fell asleep or became very sleepy at work in the past month.
Sleepiness affects our work life, school life, and everything else. In that same poll, for instance, 20% lost interest or had less sex due to sleepiness, and 14% missed family events, work functions, and leisure activities.
You might begin to feel tired, groggy, or anxious due to a lack of sleep. However, this initial array of effects is just the beginning.
Important Health Consequences of Sleep Loss
One in every six fatal car accidents involves a fatigue-impaired driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Did you know that staying awake for 18 or 24 hours is equal to having a.05 or.08 blood alcohol concentration? This study proves that driving tired can be more dangerous than driving drunk. Even Mythbusters confirmed it in their own tests!
Aside from accidents, which are impacted by sleep loss, a number of serious health risks emerge:
- You could develop a sleep disorder. Insomnia, delayed sleep disorder, and others can turn your sleep problems into a clinical one - with a host of effects such as blurry vision, nausea, and even psychosis.
- You have an increased risk of stroke. If you regularly sleep less than 6 hours each night, your risk quadruples (in adults).
- You are more likely to overeat, leading to obesity. Mix that with sleep deprivation's contribution to osteoporosis, and you have a dangerous tandem.
- A number of other increased risk factors for serious medical issues, such as heart attack, high blood pressure, heart failure, psychiatric and mood disorders, and even an increased mortality risk.
Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor for any sleep concerns. This is not a topic that you want to ignore, as it has a huge impact on your health, quality of life, and happiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment