Are You Suffering From Sleep Deprivation
Living in a world that runs at a
breakneck pace, one of the biggest problem that modern
people face is sleep deprivation. As there is more work to
do, more things to accomplish, more television to watch,
more games to play, and more to get into every day, people
rarely set aside enough time to just sleep. And that is a
serious problem, because sleep deprivation is very
detrimental to good health.
The average adult needs eight hours of sleep every night.
However, the average adult actually gets only about 6-7 hours
of sleep every night. This is a problem because that lack of
sleep adds up. Every hour of sleep that a person misses builds
sleep debt and leaves a person needing more sleep the next
night. Usually, the next night is just another night of 6-7
hours of sleep and even more sleep debt that starts adding up.
By the weekend, most people have so much sleep debt built up
that even sleeping in will not help their sleep deprivation.
And that creates problems.
The most common results of sleep deprivation include
fatigue, an inability to concentrate, irritability and
difficulty handling stress. In more severe cases, sleep
deprivation can lead to blurred vision, slurred speech and
general confusion. If these symptoms sound similar to drinking
too much alcohol, that is because they are. In fact, people who
have gone between seventeen and nineteen hours without sleep
are more impaired than people who have a blood alcohol content
of .05, a level that is illegal in most countries.
In the most severe cases, sleep deprivation can even cause
hallucinations, nausea and, in the most severe cases, even
death. Furthermore, there is evidence showing that a lack of
sleep changes the body’s metabolism, increasing the risk of
obesity or diabetes.
The best way to treat sleep deprivation is, of course, by
getting enough sleep. There is simply no replacement for a full
eight hours every night. And that means a full eight hours
every night. And by eight hours, that means eight hours of
lying in bed actually asleep.
Unfortunately,
the biggest obstacle to getting enough sleep isn’t work
or stress, it is television. Many people stay up much
later than they should because they want to catch just a
few more minutes or just one more show, or just see the
end of what they are watching. Sleep deprivation can just
be a result of watching too much television. Which means
that the best sleep aid available is actually the off
switch. By using that, many people can feel a lot better
every morning and stay more alert during the day.
Though it seems that sleep deprivation is a fact of
life in the modern world, it doesn’t have to be. With a little
discipline, people can get themselves into bed where they
belong and get the rest they need. By doing that, people can be
more alert, healthier, and much more able to face the stresses
of the day. And what could be a better cure for sleep
deprivation than turning in every night to stop depriving the
body of sleep?
Sleep HQ http://sleephq.com/
your guide to sleep deprivation and getting a
good night's sleep.
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