Causes of Sleep Deprivation
The causes of sleep deprivation vary. The most common include:
Work
Evening work and jet lag caused by long-distance travel shift the balance of the body’s circadian rhythm, causing people to fall asleep later than usual. When there’s no opportunity to sleep in the following morning, chronic sleep deprivation occurs. It’s the downside to having 24/7 services.
Family
Surveys suggest new parents lose as much as six months of cumulative sleep in the first two years of a child’s life. When coupled daytime with work and school commitments, the result can be chronic sleep deficiency.
Stress
Stress causes hyperarousal — a physical and mental state of alert that’s similar to the fight or flight response. Worry about school, work or financial issues boosts the level of hormones responsible for wakefulness and makes it difficult to sleep.
Medication and Substance Use
Insomnia is a common side effect of many medications used to treat physical and mental illness. Examples include beta-blockers for hypertension, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression and bipolar disorder and over-the-counter remedies for colds and flu.
Everyday substances can also act as stimulants, promoting wakefulness and causing a jittery feeling. Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine top the list.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders are conditions that make it difficult to fall or stay asleep — about 20-percent of adults are affected. Primary insomnia is the most common cause of cumulative sleep deprivation, but sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and parasomnias are also prevalent.
Lifestyle
Sleep isn’t always a top priority for people when they’re enjoying a party, watching TV or chatting with friends online. Opting for fun over sleep is a personal choice that many young people are tempted to make, but it’s one that can lead to a sleep debt that’s tough to repay.
Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation
Regardless of the cause of sleep deprivation, its effects can be shocking. Even short-term sleep loss can cause symptoms that help explain the high incidence of automobile and workplace accidents such as:
- Fatigue
- Poor memory
- Irritability
- Impaired judgment
- Slow hand-eye coordination
- Tremor
- Hallucinations and more
If sleeplessness persists over time, symptoms can worsen until they affect your general health. Known as cumulative sleep deprivation, it’s a serious risk factor for conditions including:
- Headaches
- Chronic pain
- Fibromylagia
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Hormone imbalances
- Weight gain
- Heart Disease
- Cancer and more
The Bright Side of Cumulative Sleep Deprivation
Everyone suffers from the consequences of sleep loss, but for persons with some forms of depression, chronic sleep deprivation can be therapeutic. Researchers believe that when neurotransmitters in the brain are imbalanced — a common cause of depression — the loss of REM sleep can help restore them to more normal levels.
Chronic sleep deprivation therapy doesn’t work for everyone, and its benefits must be balanced against the risks to overall health — but its intermittent use been proven to be effective.
Final Thoughts
The effects of sleep are profound — it fights inflammation, rejuvenates the immune system and refreshes a tired mind. In a world of distraction and never-ending activity, sleep can be the best medicine.