Lack of Sleep

Sleep is essential for staying healthy.  When a lack of sleep is suspected, it may require a determined effort to get more.  The effort, however, is worth it since life is more enjoyable when you feel refreshed.  If a sleep deficit is chronic, it may take many weeks of adequate sleep to fully recover.

Causes and Development

Lack of sleep can occur a number of ways.  Total sleep deprivation is complete absence of sleep.  Partial is insufficient sleep night after night.  Sleep can also appear to be sufficient in amount yet be poor in quality.  This occurs with sleep apnea, marked by heavy snoring and occasional gasps for air – the person is awakened often hundreds of times a night without knowing it, gulping air due to a closed airway in the throat.

Signs and Symptoms

Sleep deprivation symptoms include irritability, reduced alertness, fatigue, blurred vision, slurring of speech, memory lapses, diminished cognitive and motor performance, and inability to concentrate.  In extreme stages bizarre behavior and hallucinations can occur.

It has been estimated that someone who has gone without sleep for 24 hours suffers from impaired performance that is similar to someone with a blood-alcohol level of 0.10% (in other words, intoxicated).  Beyond that, body- and mind-altering states set in, leading to hallucinations and serious risks to overall health.

Diagnosis and Tests

A common measure of sleep deficit uses the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.  Score your answers to the eight questions below as follows:

0 = no chance of dozing
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 = high chance of dozing

• Sitting and reading
• Watching TV
• Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g. a theater or a meeting)
• As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
• Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
• Sitting and talking to someone
• Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
• In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic

...and add the total score.

If your score is 1-6, you are getting enough sleep; 7-8 is common but 9 or more means you should think about seeking the advice of a sleep specialist.

Complications

Repeated late nights and early mornings create a chronic lack of sleep, which in turn produces hormones and chemicals in the body that increase the risk of developing heart disease, strokes and other conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity.

Long-term sleep deficit also has a negative impact on the lungs, kidneys, appetite, metabolism (and therefore weight control), immune system function, pain tolerance, reaction time, mood, and overall brain function.  It increases one's risk of becoming depressed or engaging in substance abuse, and has been linked to an increased risk of certain forms of cancer.

A sleep deficit also increases a person's chances of experiencing accidents and injury, and diminishes their sex life.