The Effects of Sleep Deprivation

A simple definition of sleep deprivation is: an acute or chronic lack of sleep which causes a detrimental effect to health.  Now how much sleep loss actually affects one’s health varies from individual to individual. But it’s safe to say that even a few hours lost over the course of just a few nights can have a negative impact. The effects of sleep deprivation can include lower energy and cognition levels, higher blood pressure, poorer memory, and even psychological mood swings.

But how much sleep do we have to lose to be deprived? Well, like so many things in life, the answer to that is “it depends.” That’s because there’s no perfect number of sleep hours that will work for everyone. People of different ages require different amounts of sleep – generally, the older we become the less sleep we need. But even within the same age and gender group there are individuals who need different amounts of sleep to function effectively. One person may only need six hours a night to be at his or her best while the next person may require nine. Sleep needs simply vary by individual.

Exactly why we need sleep isn’t completely understood either. Obviously our bodies need to maintain and replenish themselves and much of that occurs while we sleep. But when we sleep we’re also at our most vulnerable. In some ways it’s a curious evolutionary development.We do know that there are multiple causes of sleep deprivation. For instance, medical conditions can interfere with sleep on a regular basis – especially those that cause pain or discomfort. Psychological conditions such as severe anxiety or depression can inhibit or prevent sleep as well. Certain substances, particularly drugs or alcohol, can have a negative effect on sleep. And we sometimes even disturb our own sleep by conscious choice; as in those cases where we “pull all-nighters” or simply work overtime to catch up or try to get ahead, in effect, creating our own chronic sleep deprivation.

But regardless of how we become sleep deprived, there is always a price to pay. Here are some of the effects of sleep deprivation.

There is a sufficient amount of scientific evidence that supports the strong connection between sleep deprivation and our ability to think clearly. Attention spans noticeably shorten and our ability to remember even simple facts degrades. Judgment becomes impaired. Reaction time slows. And we generally have a tougher and tougher time just getting through the day. Of course this can have a potentially detrimental impact on our work or school lives. But it can also cause physical harm as witnessed by the number of traffic accidents that occur each year due to lack of sleep.

Insufficient sleep can contribute to the onset or worsening of psychiatric problems. Feelings of anxiety can increase and amplify when the body and mind haven’t had enough time to rest and restore themselves. And depression can deepen and intensify as well.

When the body spends too much time awake, hormone levels become more difficult to regulate. Some of these hormones help us keep our appetites in check. But when their levels become disrupted, our appetites often increase. It’s almost as if we’re trying to make up for the lack of sleep with an increase in carbohydrates. In any event, weight gain often follows, sometimes leading to obesity.

The long-term effects of sleep deprivation can be serious. For instance, high blood pressure has been linked to prolonged lack of sleep. And high blood pressure (AKA Hypertension) is a very serious health risk – often a precursor to heart disease and stroke. And the thing about high blood pressure is that it’s often hard to detect because it can occur without presenting any real symptoms. The only sure way to know is by having our blood pressure checked regularly.

One of the insidious dangers of sleep deprivation is that we can become used to it. We simply learn on a non-conscious level to deal with the lack of energy and the reduced alertness. It’s one of the gifts we have as human beings, to be able to adapt. But in this case that adapting doesn’t do us any long-term good because almost without realizing it, the quality of our lives decreases.

We can overcome the effects of our sleep issues temporarily with stimulants but their effects lessen over time. The only real sleep deprivation treatment is to increase sleep time. Sometimes that means making behavioral changes and sometimes that means seeking medical or psychological help. In any case, nothing energizes more than a good night’s sleep. And when our bodies and minds are well-rested we make better decisions, we operate more effectively, and generally enjoy a higher quality of life.

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