Sleep deprivation is a term that refers to an inadequate quantity of sleep, characterized by signs of sleepiness during the day, reduced alertness, and decreased performance at work or school. Sleep deprivation often occurs as a result of a sleeping disorder that restricts the quantity, quality, or timing of sleep.
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Sleep deprivation can be an acute or chronic condition, depending on its cause. Most sleep disorders cause ongoing difficulty with sleep, leading to chronic sleep deprivation. Acute deprivation, on the other hand, is more likely to be associated with short-term circumstances that lead to sleep difficulties, such as a temporary restriction of sleep time due to grievous events taking place in the affected individual's life.
Normal sleep requirements
The sleep requirements for each individual are different and vary according to specific factors such as age, general health, physical activity, and mental exertion.
In general, children and adolescents need approximately 9-10 hours of sleep per day to enable healthy brain development. Most adults need slightly less than 8 hours of sleep each day for optimal function, although this requirement appears to continually decrease with age.
What would happen if you didn’t sleep? - Claudia Aguirre
Symptoms
When an individual is deprived of sleep, there are several effects that may occur, as adequate sleep is essential for the human body to function healthily. These individuals often feel tired during the day, are more likely to perform poorly, and may notice significant weight changes.
Sleep is important for the maintenance and development of both the brain and cognitive function. For this reason, when people are sleep deprived, they are more likely to have difficulty making decisions and problem-solving. As sleep is also important for the processing and storage of memories, deprivation of sleep is also associated with difficulties in both learning and cognitive function.
For this reason, children with sleep deprivation are less likely to perform well at school. Additionally, sleep deprivation can have an effect on the emotional control of an individual.
Causes
There are various possible causes of sleep deprivation, the most common of which include:
- Personal choice: People who are unaware of sleep requirements often choose to stay up at night to socialize or enjoy hobbies.
- Environment: The bedroom can also affect sleep, such as when there are extreme temperatures or excessive light or sound. New parents are also prone to sleep deprivation due to infants crying or needing feeding.
- Habits: Some individuals are not aware of good sleep hygiene and may consume caffeine or alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use electronic devices shortly before bed.
- Shift work: Irregular work hours can disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle, which can lead to difficulty sleeping.
- Illness: Sickness or infection of the respiratory tract can temporarily restrict breathing during sleep.
- Sleep disorders: Many sleep disorders can disrupt the quantity, quality, or timing of sleep.
- Medications: Some drugs can cause insomnia and disrupt the sleep cycle.
Management
The best way to manage sleep deprivation is to sleep and allow the body to recover naturally by providing yourself time and a suitable environment to get adequate sleep. This may include simple lifestyle alterations, such as:
- Going to bed earlier
- Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and smoking before bedtime
- Light-proofing or sound-proofing the sleep environment
- Removing distractions such as the television, computer, or phone
- Using relaxation techniques to aid sleep
In some cases, there is an underlying medical issue that causes sleep deprivation, which should be addressed first. Once the underlying health condition has been identified, the sleep deprivation symptoms are likely to resolve. Some people may also benefit from pharmaceutical aids to sleep at night or increase their alertness during the day.
References
Further Reading
Study finds prenatal sleep quality affects newborn brain structure and emotional health