Saturday, 26 September 2009

The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation

If you look at recent history, people are starting to sleep less and less. Less than 100 years ago, people slept 9 hours a night on average; now they're getting less than 7 hours. We have so many modern conveniences that are supposed to save us time, but really they just give us more to do. Before you accept not sleeping enough as an inevitable way of life, consider the harmful effects sleep deprivation could be having on your body.

Physical Effects

Most people are aware of the obvious short terms effects of sleep deprivation including exhaustion, fatigue, and a general lack of energy, but they're less aware of some of the more serious physical consequences from not sleeping. Sleep not only recharges and repairs our brains, it also repairs our bodies. Here are some other problems that can arise from not sleeping enough:

  • Inability to properly process glucose. This can lead to high blood sugar levels and other symptoms of type II diabetes. This also causes glucose to be stored as fat, which can lead to weight gain
  • Increased symptoms of aging
  • Core body temperature is lowered, which can impair proper functioning.
  • Less consistent heart beat.

Mental Effects

All day long, no matter what you're doing, your brain is working. It's spending time inputting processing, and outputting information. Even if you don't think you get much done during the day, your brain does a lot of work. That's why it's important that it has time to rest and recharge. Here are just a few of the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation.

  • Less control over speech; exhibited through slurring, stuttering, speaking in monotone, and choosing repetitive words and cliches. Scientists assume this occurs because the speech center of the brain actually shuts down and another, less capable part, must take over.
  • While short term memory may be improved, there is a decreased ability to access older memories and convert long term to short term memory. It is almost impossible to learn a new skill.
  • Decreased creativity, especially when it comes to problem solving. Sleep deprived people tend to be slower and less accurate when solving problems.
  • Hallucinations and even temporary insanity can occur from a lack of REM sleep.
  • Decreased judgment abilities and reaction time. Sleep deprivation is comparable to alcohol intoxication when it comes to driving ability.

Emotional Effects

While we tend to focus on the physical and mental symptoms of sleep deprivation, there are also significant emotional symptoms as well. Emotional difficulties can take a severe toll on our personal relationships and safety. Some emotional problems associated with sleep deprivation are:

  • Increased emotional stress and anxiety.
  • A more pessimistic attitude.
  • Extreme sadness and even depression.
  • Extreme anger. Sleep deprivation has actually been indicated to be one of the major causes of road rage.

It's important to remember that not everyone needs the same amount of sleep. You should try to get enough sleep to make yourself feel rested; this may mean getting more than 8 hours. If you're getting a lot of sleep and not feeling rested, you may have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, and should see a doctor. While it may be difficult to fit a good night's sleep into your schedule, it will not only make you feel better, it will also make you more efficient in the time you spend awake.

Jeff Wilson

Need more free health related information? Jeff suggests reading more free health related articles today at: http://www.FreeArticles.com.

Thursday, 24 September 2009

Medical Conditions Causing Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Disorder is something that almost everybody suffers from at some point of time in their life. For most people, the sleep disorder or sleep deprivation is a temporary phenomenon while for others it becomes worse. It is therefore true that medical condition of a person contributes a lot to sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is one of the symptoms of Sleep disorder affecting millions of people around the world. Those who are affected by the sleep disorder and several medical conditions are laced with several symptoms of lack of sleep. These include metabolic imbalance, hormone imbalance, chronic pain, fever and urinary frequency.

Sleep deprivation caused by medical conditions can actually come in various forms. For instance, chronic pain conditions do not allow you to have sound sleep during the night. Chronic pain is the pain that either lingers on or last. This type of pain can occur due to problem with your legs or from a sore back.

Also, physical and mental condition can be the real cause of the sleep deprivation. Here, we explain some of them that you might be undergoing.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) is a medical condition that contributes to the inability to sleep well at night. In this very condition, a person is left with countless snoring and sleeping disorders while sleeping.

Depression is also a major cause of sleep deprivation. Depression is characterized as the root cause of all ailments affecting the way you feel, you think, you perceive things, you make decision, you eat, and the way you feel about yourself. Depression interferes with your sleep, causes fatigue and affects your mood and can lead to your ability of dealing with ups and downs of life and makes it difficult to concentrate on tasks.

Asthma is another condition in which medication provided to cure asthma conditions may facilitate a person to cure the sleeping problems at night. It is a chronic disease that affects the tubes carrying air to the lungs.

At last, sleep disorder such as sleep deprivation and other related problems are associated with medical conditions. So, to deal with it you may have to take professional advice from a health provider. In such case, a health professional specialised in sleeping disorders might advise you to buy a memory foam mattress which is one of the best option to get rid of various

Dave Clark

Dave Clark has many years experience writing articles,he has also written many books, and is well known in the industry. Dave currently has many projects he is working on, he is also on the board of directors for Cushy Sofa a manufacturer and online retailer of Memory Foam Pillows,Memory Foam Sofas, Memory Foam Toppers, Buy your Divans, Memory Foam Mattresses direct from the manufacturer

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation; Are You Sleep Deprived?

In this modern age, people are getting busier and busier as they have more responsibilities to fulfill and their lives are changing drastically. There seems to be more and more things to be done so that some people really tend to neglect their sleep. They prioritize their work or pleasure above their sleeping and a bad cycle begins which eventually runs out of control.

Here is a primary example of the problem. A person focuses on their work too much. They burn the midnight oil and even sleep in the office just out of convenience. The same thing goes with their enjoyment or leisure time. They develop an addiction to watching television or playing video games. They talk on the phone constantly and they never actually sit still and enjoy some peace and quiet. This can go on for weeks until that person gets tired, scolded by their boss or teacher for staying up too late or starts getting sleepy at the wrong times. This can lead to sleep deprivation if the right amount of sleep is never met. If something is not done and the problem gets worse, it could lead to even more adverse effects.

There are several effects of deprivation: from mild to severe. By examining these effects, you can determine if you are sleep deprived. One common and immediate effect of sleep deprivation is that you still feel sleepy after a normal night of sleep and you tend to need to go to bed earlier than usual in order to get back on track with your lost amount of sleep. This is only an initial condition but, if you don't get on track, it evolves into a bigger problem.

People who get behind can often prevent themselves from getting back to sleep by drinking too much coffee or staying awake too late in front of the TV. It is usually something in your surroundings that makes you stay awake too late. For example, one teenager recounted how she slept at three in the morning, woke up at seven, and when she wanted to sleep earlier to make up for the lost sleep, she failed to do so because there was a concert being held near her house! She could hear the band playing and could not sleep! Since she liked what they were playing, she just stayed up listening and then found herself sick the next night.

There is a common misconception that missing just one hour of sleep each night will not have any effect on the activities during the following day. This is far from being true. It is definitely not ok to continually sleep less each night for even just an hour. You will eventually develop "sleep debt" which is the buildup of much needed lost sleep. The sleep debt time will continue to accumulate and you will have to make up for it even if you are just lacking one hour of sleep per day. If the sleep debt is accumulated, you can develop a problem in your daytime performance, thinking, temperament or all of the above.

It is definitely true that sleep deprivation can affect your daytime performance or motor skills. You can get drowsy and you may not be able to concentrate when you lack sleep. Driving while tired in the United States results in a high prevalence of motor vehicle crashes. This comes to about 100,000 crashes per year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration!

Driving at night or in the mid-afternoon is much riskier than in the morning because it is dark. This is because your biological clock, which controls the timing of sleep, will make you feel sleepier when it is dark rather than when it is light. Drowsiness makes your reaction time slower than usual and weakens your vigilance and ability to make good judgments. Decreased motor function will also affect your performance at work.

It is simply not a good thing to be deprived of sleep. You might experience a lot of bad consequences that you never thought of. In fact, we should balance our lifestyle with our sleeping so that work and pleasure have a reasonable amount of time rather than an overextended amount. Sleep is an important part of our daily routine and we should take the time to sleep so as to give our bodies what they so rightly deserve!

Gary M. Miller

Over 70 Million people in the USA suffer from some kind of Sleep Disorder! There are actually hundreds of ways to improve your sleep but the first thing that is needed is to raise more awareness! If you want to sleep better tonight , you can visit this information Sleep Aid Web Site that is packed with FREE information: http://www.Sleep-Aid-Solutions.com

Sunday, 20 September 2009

How Cpap Treats Sleep Deprivation

When a person suffers from sleep deprivation, it is certain that their waking state will be affected. The disappointing fact about sleep disorders is that most people have suffered from it at least at one point in their lives. Though there are sleep disorders that are transient, some are actually stricken with the affliction for years, and even decades. Insomnia, for one, affects a considerable percentage of the world's population. Ten to fifteen percent of the population has severe chronic insomnia, while another twenty-five to thirty percent has occasional or transient insomnia. However, insomnia is just one kind of sleep disorder that causes sleep deprivation. There is sleep apnea, which is characterized by the breathing pauses in a person's sleeping state. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS), on the other hand, is characterized by a person's inability to wake up or fall asleep at his or her desired times.

Sleep deprivation, due to several sleep disorders, causes sleepiness, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, disorientation when the person is awake. Many people have opted to use medications to help them with their affliction, and others have relied on natural remedies (lemon balm, kava, chamomile, oats, drinking warm milk, etc.) or methods (adjusting sleeping time, refurbishing their sleeping environment, exercise, etc.). Though there are some treatments that are left to be desired for their side effects (and yes, even some herbal remedies can have adverse side effects), there is a machine invented to treat sleep deprivation.

Treating sleep deprivation with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) can work to relieve someone from their sleeplessness. Through a method of ventilating the respiratory system, this machine is usually used to treat people who suffer from sleep apnea or hypnoapnea. It can also help a person's snoring problem. Treating sleep deprivation with CPAP does have its limitation. For example, when it comes to sleep apnea, CPAP can only treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is characterized by the constriction of the airways, but CPAP cannot treat central sleep apnea, which is caused by the break of communication between the brain and the body's breathing pace.

A CPAP machine works by feeding pressurized air to the person through a mask. The machine keeps the airflow at a certain pressure, and this prevents the airways from getting constricted. A CPAP is not usually operated by the patients themselves. A professional generally manages the machine, and people have to go to a clinic (like a sleep clinic) to get this treatment. The pressure is adjusted according to how it eliminates apneas or snoring.

People who have tried this treatment may experience some discomfort in the beginning, especially when subjected to a mask (which normally has hoses for the nose, and such). Some struggle to get used to the machine. On the other hand, most were able to adjust to this method. Moreover, when administered by a trained technician, treating sleep deprivation with CPAP does not have any side effects, unlike other sleep disorder mediations or herbal remedies. It can be a bit costly, though. Yet it is also advisable for people to try this method and see if it works well for their sleeping disorders.


Friday, 18 September 2009

The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation and the Benefits of a Good Nights Sleep

Just how dangerous is excessive sleep deprivation and how many people suffer from it?

Well the answer to the first question is it is extremely dangerous and the answer to the second question is that more people than you would think suffer from sleep deprivation.

Now the common perception on sleep deprivation is that it is usually caused because you're under the stress etc or it is because the older we get the less sleep we actually need etc.

Now by and large these two facts are true but they only just scrape the surface of what sleep deprivation is all about.

It is about a whole lot more. The ramifications can be extremely serious if not deadly. If you are not getting enough sleep it is a problem that you have to sort out and resolve before it resolves you permanently if you know what I mean?

So how much sleep is enough? Most adults need between seven to eight hours sleep at night. People who get this amount of sleep are well rested and will not have the urge to “cat nap” at various points during the day.

Now I know there are those out there who will argue quite strongly that they can get away with 4-5 hours sleep and yes there were legendary stories of a particular well-known British Prime Minister who could get away with three to four hours sleep but to be brutally honest these are the exceptions rather than the norm.

So in general what causes sleep deprivation?

Well actually, one of the most common causes of sleep deprivation is actually that you don't allow enough time to get any sleep. Bizarre as this might sound it is a side effect of our increasingly stressful day to day lives that we don't actually allow our self the proper amounts of time to get to sleep.

Other common courses of sleep deprivation range from excessive worry, depression, repeated awakenings as a result of excessive noise etc. Others include working at night, working late shifts or if we travel excessively across time zones (sometimes called jet lag) and mostly sleep deprivation could be caused by a number of medical illnesses with the medical reasons for basic lack of sleep through excessive pain or inability to breathe.

So what is the prognosis of all of this and what are the consequences of sleep deprivation?

Well for starters there are increased numbers of motor vehicle accidents and accidents at work and then also decreased productivity whether that is at work, studying at home or a number of things. A side effect of all of this is that if the sleep deprivation becomes a chronic problem it can cause difficulties within our social relationships with our families and loved ones and work colleagues. If this is not resolved successfully or dealt with properly it causes a downward spiral.

So what is the bottom line to all of this? If you have problems sleeping you need to get it sorted and one of the most common ways of making sure that you at least have the chance of getting a good nights sleep is make sure that you have good mattress to sleep on. This is obvious I know but you would be surprised how many people suffer from not having a good enough bed or mattress to sleep on at night.

Scott James

Scott James writes about a number of Health based issues on the Internet. More about being able to ensure you get a decent nights sleep can be found at the following: Foam Mattresses , foam cushion and http://www.cutfoam.co.uk/mattresses.html

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Join Me in the Fight Against Sleep Deprivation

Many individuals experience a disturbance in the natural cycle of sleep at one point or another. Many times, complications from sleep disturbances can result in numerous negatives effects on an individual’s health. In this article, I will review important facts regarding sleep complications. I urge you to learn the information contained within this article, and join me in the fight against sleep deprivation.

There are numerous reasons why a person may experience a sleep disorder. The most common reason is that the sleep disturbance is due to another health condition. Many people with conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have difficulties falling to sleep, maintaining sleep, and getting enough rest to function as necessary. People who experience chronic pain, Sciatica, hormonal imbalances, and similar issues may develop sleep disorders.

Sleep Apnea is another common sleep disorder that can affect sleep. This occurs when an individual actually stops breathing frequently throughout the night. The person may or may not realize that they are experiencing this. Many times, if someone complains that they are not getting enough rest, a doctor will order an exam in which sleeping patterns are observed. This is the method that is used to determine if sleep apnea is the underlying sleep disorder that a person is experiencing.

Suffering from a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, for example, can lead to many health problems. These health problems can appear as a physical issue, or may have an impact on the mental health of an individual. The following outlines some general complications that are associated with sleep deprivation:

• Feeling lethargic
• Suffering from decreased motivation
• Experiencing muscle spasms throughout the body
• Exhibiting severe mood swings
• Decreased strength of the immune system
• Confusion, or issues in thinking appropriately
• An increased number of accidents
• Issues with reflexes

If a person fails to get the proper amount of sleep, many serious health conditions can occur. This includes:

• Heart Failure
• Injuries to muscles
• High blood pressure levels
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Anxiety attacks
• Mental instability

It has been discovered that when a person experiences a sleep disorder, that simple lifestyle changes can help to alleviate the problem. If you engage in activities such as smoking, or consuming alcoholic beverages, it is important to eliminate these items from your life. It is equally important to ensure that you get plenty of sunshine during the day. The body has an internal timer based on a substance called “Melatonin”. When you are in sunlight, the Melatonin levels are decreased. Once it begins to turn darker outside, the Melatonin levels will naturally increase. This is the way that the body sends the message to the brain that it is time to sleep.

If you wish to avoid various sleep disorders, it is imperative that you engage in a healthy diet. If you get the proper amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, the body is sure to respond in a positive way. Many of the foods that we consume on a daily basis contain a high level of toxins. Furthermore, many foods that are cooked are stripped of all the nutritional value that our body requires. If you focus on natural foods, such as a variety of fruits, and drinks that have a high nutritional value, such as Juice Plus, your body is more apt to adept appropriately when it is time to rest.

There are many ways that you and I can fight against sleep deprivation. The first step is learning as much as you can about sleep disorders, and the causes. The second step is to make healthy lifestyle changes that can benefit to the health of the sleep cycle. The third method is to share this important information with your loved ones.

Hamza Davis

Hamza is a top distributor with Juice Plus. You can receive additional information by visiting:
http://iluvjuiceplus.com

Monday, 14 September 2009

Signs of Sleep Deprivation - Early Signs Can Help You Stop It

Sleep deprivation is when your body does not get the required sleep it needs. Sleep deprivation could be voluntary or not (through a sleep disorder). There are many signs of sleep deprivation. Some are noticeably obvious and some symptoms are not because you may think the other symptoms you're experiencing may be due to another condition you think you have. Sleep deprivation can affect anyone with a demanding lifestyle. If you work hours on your job, or juggling a job and school, you can easily deprive yourself of sleep. Here are some signs to look out for during your day.

One of the main signs of sleep deprivation is not being able to concentrate. If you are having trouble focusing on your work during the day you may need to make an effort to get more sleep. Also, it may amount to more than it as there are other mental challenges in front of you. For one, you may feel you are moving slowly or you may feel someone is physically trying to hold you back. You may find creativity is out the door that day because your brain is not functioning at an optimal level. You may find yourself being short with others because not getting enough sleep affects your mood and mental outlook greatly.

In addition to the mental signs of sleep deprivation, you may be experiencing physical problems as well. For example, your reaction time in may slow down during physical activity or worse yet, you may even be experiencing aches and pains for no apparent reason. You may even experience unexpected weight gain when your sleep deprived. Also, watch out who you speak to at work because you may be slurring your speech might not be able to control it.

Remember, if you're experiencing any of the above may the simple matter of not getting enough sleep at night. Most people need eight hours of sleep at night. However, most people wind up getting less than that. So if you feel you're not effective during the day, you maybe not getting enough sleep at night. There is only one way to find out charter get the recommended hours of sleep a night and see if you feel refreshed and more in tune to what you are doing.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects an opinion. This article is not a substitute for medical advice. You should consult a physician for medical advisement.

John Purfield

For more information on signs of sleep deprivation, go to http://www.aboutsleepdisorder.com, a website that discusses sleep deprivation and treatments.

Sunday, 13 September 2009

Sleep Deprivation Will Undermine Your Health

Sleep Deprivation is the most severe problem that is affecting millions of people around the globe. It implies the lack of necessary sleep of an individual. Sleep is very essential for the overall functioning of our body. Sleep deprivation has been proved to be detrimental to your overall well being; so if you suffer from sleep disorder, its treatment becomes all the more important.

To maintain good health, it is important to have a sound sleep. Sleep deprivation can have serious implications on your health both physically and mentally. Also, inadequate sleep affects your ability to maintain a desirable immune system to handle stress level.

Without adequate sleep, our brain functions start deteriorating; the brain has to work harder to counteract the effects of sleep deprivation. Brain at the time of sleep deprivation starts operating less effectively, decision making capabilities are affected and the memory becomes paralyzed. Consequently, the concentration level severely drops making it difficult for the brain to generate new and fresh ideas.

Also, people suffering from the sleep deprivation are found to have hallucinations. Other effects of sleep deprivation include chronic disease, unclear speech, hypertension, irritability, and depression, and dramatic weight change.

Since the causes of the sleep deprivation are too many, it becomes quite crucial to assess what exactly disrupts your sleep. There are various reasons which may include emotional disorders or your lifestyle which is affecting your sleep. To know the real causes and to get the right treatment is quite relevant to have a quality sleep.

To pinpoint the real causes of your sleep deprivation, your doctor will inquire about your lifestyle and perform a series of tests on you. For instance, your doctor may prescribe the use of memory foam mattress for getting the sound and comfortable night sleep which is the best mattress designed specifically for comfortable and sound sleep.

In case, depression comes as an underlying cause of your condition, then your doctor may advise you for the meditation and the right medication to treat this sleeping disorder problem. Similarly, if your medications are coming in the way of your sleep, then your doctor may prescribe some mild medications or some alternate medications that would not let your sleep to disturb.

Sleep deprivation is thus rampant in today’s society. With a fast paced lifestyle, the majority of people have become the victim of sleep disorder.



Dave Clark

Dave Clark has many years experience writing articles, he has also written many books, and is well known in the industry. Dave currently has many projects he is working on, he is also on the board of directors for Cushy Sofa a manufacturer and online retailer of Memory Foam Pillows, Memory Foam Toppers, Memory Foam Sofas, Divans, Buy your Sofa Memory Foam Mattress direct from the manufacturer

Friday, 11 September 2009

Are You Suffering From a Sleep Disorder or Sleep Deprivation?

Sleep deprivation in America has become a bigger problem than most will admit. It is estimated that between fifty and eighty million people are suffering from sleep deprivation at this moment and that most people will experience sleep deprivation sometime in their lives. Of course there are many reasons and at varying levels that people will be affected. but do you know the difference between sleep deprivation and a sleep disorder? One is a result of and the other is the reason for.



In other words you could have insomnia, which is a sleep disorder, and suffer sleep deprivation, which is the result. The reason I make this distinction is because too many people believe that they are suffering from a sleep disorder when they start missing sleep but when you carefully diagnose the problem, it might not be a disorder.

A simple example is: a dog is barking outside your window at night keeping you awake. After a few nights of this, you are experiencing sleep deprivation. Stop the dog from barking and you solve your problem. Unlike a sleep disorder, which could result from a psychological or physical issue in your life, sleep deprivation is the result.

Unfortunately a major problem today is too many people go undiagnosed and will not get the necessary treatment for their problem. So it is important to recognize what is causing you to have sleep deprivation in order to seek the correct treatment. Sleep deprivation can turn into a disorder, like insomnia, if you don't get help. It can start as a mild case where you lose sleep for a few nights to a severe case where you are losing sleep for weeks or even months. So it is imperative that you examine what's going on in your life to seek the cause.

Are you going through a stressful time and are doing a lot of worrying? Most people who are experiencing a stressful time in their life lose sleep because they lie awake all night thinking of their problems and their minds become their worst enemy.

Could it be something deeper that you can't easily recognize? You should always seek a doctor's help for both identifying your issue and remedies to take care of it. Sometimes it's as easy as taking some sleep medication for a short period of time to get you back into a natural sleep cycle. The main point is to identify the underlying cause and then seek alternatives that can help.

Remember there are dozens of sleep disorders out there such as insomnia, apnea, night sweats, and so much more. The key is to identify the underlying cause and recognize that if you are loosing sleep over an extended period of time, you are suffering from more than just sleep deprivation, you are suffering from a sleep disorder. Seek medical help in determining just what it is and you can acquire the proper treatment.

Lewis Malburne



For more information on Sleep Disorders visit You Can Sleep Deep.com

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

Get Rid of Sleep Deprivation For Good

Sleep deprivation can have serious effects on a person's health. It can affect a person physically and mentally. It will affect your ability to think, deal with stress, and keep your immune system healthy. Concentration can drop and memory can become impaired from long term sleep deprivation. Problem solving skills are disabled and decision making skills are compromised as well. Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night is what most people need to be well rested and healthy.

Long term sleep deprivation can also cause hallucinations in severe cases. Slurred speech, depression, irritability, and slowed reactions times can happen as well. You can also get hypertension and heart disease too from sleep deprivation.

Older people tend to be more susceptible to sleep deprivation than younger people. Hormone changes and physical changes that happen as we age are likely the cause of this. For example menopausal women are going through many changes and sleep deprivation is very common among women. Most problems that older people have is the ability to get deep restorative sleep.

Dramatic weight changes have common effects of sleep deprivation. More commonly weight gain than weight loss. Not allowing enough time for sleep will cause sleep deprivation as well. Repeatedly getting awoken from loud noises, working at night, traveling across time zones, medical illnesses that cause pain and difficulty breathing can all cause sleep deprivation.

Certain sleep disorders can cause sleep deprivation. Obstructive sleep apnea is a very common disorder where there is an obstruction of the nose and throat because of enlarged tonsils or a deviated nasal septum. This disease can cause pauses in breathing while sleeping , snoring, morning headaches, and daytime fatigue. Nocturnal myoclonus is t he jerking of legs while sleeping that causes short awakening. It causes insomnia and daytime fatigue. Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder of dream sleep, the main symptom of it is uncontrollable sleep during the day.

Decreased productivity and car or work accidents result from sleep deprivation. If sleep deprivation becomes too much of a problem it may be best to go to the doctor to prevent and accidents. Accidents are most likely to happen in the mid afternoon and in the early morning hours. Adding naps in the afternoon may prevent accidents from happening through it will just add to sleeplessness in the night.

There are treatments available to help with sleep deprivation. Keeping a sleep diary can help you and your doctor determine the cause of sleeplessness. Include any medications taken, any stressful situations, date, time, and what you ate that day, whether you exercised or not, and lastly add how you slept the night before and how it affected you during the day.

Hypnosis may be helpful; it has been used for years to treat many disorders. It will benefit a person that has sleep deprivation related to emotional issues, anxiety, and stress. In cases where physical impairment causes sleep deprivation surgery may be the only way to treat it. Surgery is limited to treating sleep apnea. These surgeries involve areas such as the throat and nose.

Alternative Health Supplements offers a variety of sleep aids that can also give relief from sleeplessness. Sleep and Relax Tea by Bell. It has all natural ingredients like chamomile, spearmint leaves, citronella herb, passionflower herb, orange flowers, linden leaves, and valerian root. This product will relax you and give you a well rested feeling in the morning. It even tastes great.

Steven Johnson

Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a vital, active, and healthy lifestyle. For more information on products that are designed to help with restless leg syndrome, as well as other life-enhancing nutrients, please visit his website Alternative Health Supplements

Monday, 7 September 2009

Causes and Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

We need 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily. However, we neglect the precious sleeping time and are busy burning midnight oil on things we think are more important. When a person does not have quality sleep for a sufficient period, it can cause sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation can result in depression, anxiety, increased stress, irritation and many other negative consequences. So, if you find yourself drowsy and have a hard time fighting off sleep during the day, its time to get proper sleep.

As per the research study published in British journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, people without sleep for 17 to 19 hours are worse than people who were drunk. Sleep deprivation, if it is consistent and chronic, can lead to loss of judgment, loss of reasoning, confusion etc.

Causes of Sleep Deprivation :
Many of us do not get quality sleep to meet the demands of our busy lifestyle. To balance the work and other activities, we tend to sacrifice the sleeping time. Here are some of the causes of sleep deprivation:

  • Sleeping disorders
  • Working during the night and traveling
  • Medical illnesses
  • Disturbance from noise, light etc.
  • Depression, excessive worry

Sleeping Disorders which Cause Sleeplessness :
Here are the common disorders which cause sleeplessness:

  • Obstructive Sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when a person is unable to breathe properly due to obstruction of the nose or throat. This can be caused due to enlarged tonsils, deviated septum etc.
  • Narcolepsy: A chronic sleeping disorder which is characterized by excessive day time sleepiness Nocturnal mycoclonus: Nocturnal mycoclonus causes jerking of legs while sleeping. This causes brief awakening during the night resulting in daytime sleepiness and insomnia

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation: Psychological Effects:
Lack of sleep can cause both short-term and long-term effects. The initial effects of sleep deprivation are drowsiness, memory loss, and irritability. In case of chronic sleep deprivation, a person may experience blurry vision, loss of judgment, and inability to concentrate. Continual sleep deprivation can also cause severe mental effects such as hallucinations, mania, and nausea.

Sleeplessness not only puts you at an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, work accidents, but it can also decrease your work productivity. Irritability, anxiety can in turn cause problems in your social life.

Physiological Effects:
Sleep deprivation can also cause severe health problems. When people do not sleep properly for several months, they can develop diabetes type 2. Many studies have even linked lack of sleep to obesity. Other health consequences of sleep deprivation are depression, heart problems, high blood pressure etc.

How to Ensure Proper Sleep:
To get proper sleep, about 7 to 8 hours a day, you should take some steps:

  • Have a regular sleeping pattern i.e. sleep and wake up at the same time every day
  • Make sure your bedroom is conducive for sleep by cutting off noise, light while sleeping
  • Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks, soft drinks or eating food just before bedtime
  • Keep the temperature of your bedroom conducive for sleeping, not too warm or cool
  • Have a warm bath, listen to music which can help you sleep

If you are sleepy during the day, try taking short naps, but do not make this a habit as napping during the day can make sleeping difficult at night. If you are unable to sleep, consult your doctor as you could be suffering from a sleeping disorder.

Amit Shukla

To find out more about Amitabh's work and read articles written by him visit his Insomnia Website.

My Blog List