Sleep DeprivationMost people need about 8 hours of sleep a night, although hardly anyone manages that much these days! Sleep deprivation can be short-term, like a college student staying up to cram for an exam (bad idea, by the way!), or chronic. Chronic sleep deprivation occurs when you get less sleep than necessary night after night. You end up with a “sleep debt” which has to be repaid at some point. Sleep deprivation has serious consequences on your health and your ability to live a productive life. Chronic sleep deprivation is thought to cause long term changes to the body, which contribute to increased risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. Sleep deprivation can be dangerous not only to you but others, since it affects motor skills like driving. Signs of Sleep Deprivation
|
