MERCY MEDICAL CENTER SLEEP LAB
/ MercySiouxCity @ MercySiouxCity MercySiouxCity . com
Sleep Deprivation
Many Causes , Several Consequences , Some Solutions
BY MARK D . RAYMOND , BS , REEGT , MANAGER , MERCY MEDICAL CENTER SLEEP LAB
Do you wake up tired and feel run down ? Are you all pooped out when you get tucked in ? Well , join the crowd … and what a huge crowd it is ! Millions of Americans are deprived daily of the sleep that is absolutely necessary to not only function basically during the daytime , but to maintain proper physical health as well . Almost everyone experiences sleep deprivation once in a while due to various reasons and that can cause problems in the short term , but when it becomes a long-term issue , the consequences become more serious and can even be life-threatening . The following are 7 S ’ s that cause sleep deprivation :
1 ) Stressors
Those problems that plague us all , including stresses related to financial , interpersonal or work-related matters . Stress is the most prevalent cause of insomnia which affects 10 % of Americans on a daily basis . If we could eliminate stress from our lives , life would probably be pretty boring but it also would be more productive , healthful and less dangerous .
2 ) Sacrifices
The life-cycle of work / play / eat / sleep pretty much sums up our existence and all are necessary for balance . Unfortunately , sleep is usually sacrificed for the sake of the others . If adults don ’ t obtain at least seven hours on a fairly regular basis , that sacrifice affects every other aspect of our lives .
3 ) Sabotage
There are a multitude of ways that we sabotage our sleep , whether it be by intent or neglect . Over 90 % of adults ( and even more teens ) use electronic devices within the last hour before bedtime , be it TV , e-readers or smartphones . The blue light emitted from some of those devices can actually cause physical changes due to a delay in production of melatonin , the ‘ sleep ’ hormone , which helps balance our circadian rhythm . Other sabotages include poor sleep hygiene which can be anything from drinking caffeine or eating a large meal too close to bedtime to conditions that affect sleep such as room temperature , amount of darkness , an uncomfortable pillow or mattress and pets in the bed ( pets sleeping with you in bed is not necessarily a bad thing … just be aware that your furry four-legged family members can be unwitting sleep saboteurs ).
4 ) Sleep disorders
The most common of which is sleep apnea , a condition that is estimated to affect up to 10 % of adult males and increasingly affecting more women as well . Sleep apnea is the result of an obstruction in the airway which can occur hundreds of times during the night , possibly not even waking the apneic patient but causing enough disruption to the sleep cycle to result in daytime sleepiness ( not to mention the myriad health problems associated with it ).
"
Google the stats on fatigued drivers – you ’ ll want to stay off the streets !
Additionally , 5 ) Shift Work , 6 ) Suffering from pain and 7 ) Spouses or Significant Others ( also sleep saboteurs ) can cause sleep deprivation .
The consequences of not getting enough sleep on a short term basis are , of course , not as severe as being chronically deprived . One poor night ’ s sleep can result in decreased concentration , memory problems , moodiness and reaction time . ( Google the stats on fatigued drivers – you ’ ll want to stay off the streets !).
Healthy , Wealthy & Wise KSCJ . com | 10