Importance of Sleep - Sleep Deprivation is a Growing Problem (1)

Have you ever thought about which activity is so important you should devote one-third of your time to doing it? The first things that come to mind may be working, spending time with your family, or doing leisure activities. But there’s something else you should be doing about one-third of your time—sleeping.

Brain Activities During Sleep

Many people regard sleep as merely a “downtime” for the brain and the body to rest. They often cut back on sleep, thinking it’s okay because other responsibilities seem more important. However, research shows that some important tasks carried out during sleep help people stay healthy and function at their best.

During sleep, the brain is hard at work forming the pathways needed to learn and create memories and new insights. Without enough sleep, you won’t be able to concentrate, focus, or react quickly. Insufficient sleep can even lead to mood problems. Moreover, there is growing evidence suggesting that chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infections.

The Modern Sleep Crisis

Despite growing support for the idea that getting enough sleep is as vital to our health as adequate nutrition and physical exercise, people are getting less of it. Today’s “24/7” non-stop work culture encourages extended work hours or night shifts and offers endless entertainment and other activities. To keep up, people cut back on sleep.

A common myth is that people can learn to get by on little sleep (such as less than 6 hours a night) with no adverse effects. However, studies have shown that adults need at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night to be well rested. In 1910, most people slept for 9 hours a night. However recent surveys show that the average adult now sleeps fewer than 7 hours per night. Over a third of adults report daytime sleepiness so severe that it interferes with work, driving, and social functioning for at least a few days each month.

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

Evidence also shows that children and adolescents sleep less than recommended. These trends are related to increased exposure to electronic media. Lack of sleep can directly affect a child’s health, behavior, and development. Chronic sleep loss or sleep disorders may affect as many as 70 million Americans. This may result in an annual cost of $16 billion in healthcare expenses and $50 billion in lost productivity.

What happens when you lose sleep? Can you make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping more on weekends? Is snoring a problem? How can I tell if I have a sleep disorder? I’ll talk more about that later.

Better Sleep & Healthy Sleep Resource

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