By SHARON McMAHON
Be Well
“The shorter you sleep, the shorter your life.” – Mathew Walker, Director, Center for Human Sleep Science, UC Berkeley
Yes, I know the above quote is not pretty. I wish it were not so, but think about it – there is a reason that sleep deprivation has been used as a torture device for centuries!
Thankfully, I dare say that none of us has been in that predicament, although judging from the number of OTC sleep aids available and advertised, along with prescription medications available to patients, there is a significant problem going on in our society which results in sleep loss for many. An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders/sleep deprivation. Only one-third of American get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep. Nearly 9 million U.S. adults take prescription sleep aids.1 I personally believe those numbers have increased significantly as our country has struggled through the past couple of years of pandemic.
All that being said, let’s discuss some of the potential results of lack of sleep. Without sleep, the brain struggles to function properly. Because they do not have time to recuperate, neurons become overworked and less capable of optimal performance in many types of thinking. Apart from occasional sleepless nights, over the long-term poor sleep may put someone at a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia.2 Lack of sleep can affect not only our brains, but all our bodies functioning organs. This is a subject which I recommend each person who struggles with insomnia or other sleep issues to research and discuss with their physician.
Poor sleep can take many forms. It can be caused by short sleep duration and/or fragmented sleep. Both insufficient and interrupted sleep makes it difficult to progress through sleep cycles in a normal, healthy way.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to cause greater likelihood of car accidents. Drowsy driving accounts for thousands of crashes, injuries and fatalities each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Another cause of poor sleep could be a condition called “sleep apnea” which is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This condition must be diagnosed by a physician with resulting treatment prescribed by a physician.
In Part III of this topic, we will look at ways in which our sleep can be improved. Until then – Goodnight!
1 August 29, 2013, Centers for Disease Control, CBS News
2 Division of Sleep Medicine Harvard Medical School (2007, Dec 18) Sleep, Learning, and Memory.
Sharon McMahon, CNWC
The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace advice of your personal physician or licensed health professional. Please consult your physician for any issues you may have related to health, nutrition or fitness activity.