We all need sleep. That can be very difficult if you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or experiencing other stress. What happens if you don't get enough sleep?
Why You Need Sleep
The science behind sleep is still very new. Still, research has shown that sleep is essential to good health. While we can skimp on sleep for a short while without major complications, sleep deprivation of any kind does have an effect on the body. And going without adequate snooze time for extended periods of time can have drastic effects, increasing chances for weight gain and a variety of conditions. It is believed that sleep helps restore the body and the brain for future activity.
All animals sleep, even babies in the womb, so it is not surprising that what's behind the act of sleep has attracted many theories over the ages. In ancient times, it was thought to be a time when control over the mind was lost. Later, it was believed that the sleeping state was a time of complete mental inactivity.
Sleep Patterns Change With Age
Sleep patterns do change with age. The average infant sleeps about 16 hours a day, whereas an average 70-year-old sleeps about 6 hours. The latter may be due to both biological reasons and circumstances that are within one's control, like keeping a maxed out schedule.
Sleep Deprivation and Mental Health
Insomnia has been tied to mental distress, irritability, depression and anxiety disorders. A number of studies have found that poor sleeping patterns can cause depression later in life. Insomniacs are 3 times more likely to have a mental disorder as those that report no sleep difficulties.
Not only can lack of sleep contribute to depression risk, but depression itself can cause changes to sleep patterns. A depressed person may experience difficulty getting off to sleep coupled with early morning wakening.
Sleep Deprivation and Physical Health
Our bodies react to sleep deprivation with fatigue. One may experience droopy eyelids or problems focusing the eyes. But the physical effects can be even more pronounced and severe:
- Muscle strength and endurance diminishes
- Sensitivity to pain is heightened
- Appetite increases, which can lead to excessive weight gain
- Disruption of circadian rhythms, the natural changes your body undergoes throughout the day. (Night shift workers, who regularly experience this, are reported to live shorter lives than those who work during daytime hours.)
- Disruption of insulin production and sugar metabolism, increasing risk of diabetes
- Increased risk of coronary heart disease and other serious health conditions
- Weakened immune system, which downs defenses against illness
Aside from putting you at increased risk for various mental and physical health problems, sleep deprivation can have other noticeable consequences:
- Poor concentration
- Inability to perform tasks or process information easily and quickly
- Decreased deftness of repetitive and perceptual skills
- Impaired performance; industrial and road traffic accidents are more likely to occur when you are tired, for example.
- Difficulty learning and studying
