March 31, 2014
Current Events
It may be hard to believe, but most people miss out on getting significant shut-eye on a regular basis. In fact, about 1 in 5 American adults are sleep deprived. Our 24-hour society combined with hectic work schedules and deadlines from demanding bosses are frequently to blame for our lack of quality sleep. However the biggest culprit is actually ourselves, since a majority of people simply don’t understand the sleep process and why our bodies require it.
Most people think if they can stand up straight without keeling over, they’ve gotten enough sleep. WRONG! This fallacy has led to a large number of Americans working a full day, sleeping for an hour or 2, then starting all over again and actually believing that it’s all OK. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Sleep is not a game. Nor is it a contest (“I’ll sleep when I’m dead”) that you should test the limits of and attempt to function on as little as possible. Despite the fact that many of us think of sleep as an unnecessary inconvenience, the sleep process actually serves a very necessary purpose.
During our waking hours, the body is busy moving, talking, eating, thinking and completing tasks, but during sleep hours, that is the time for the body to go into “fix” mode. When we sleep, our body dedicates all its resources to cleansing the blood, rejuvenating cells, fighting off colds and diseases, growing new skin, hair and nails, filing away memories and more. This happens when the body goes into REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is the deepest level of sleep. The body simply cannot go into express mode and speed up the “fix” process just because our busy schedule wants it to.
The human body actually requires 6 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night in order to function properly. According to sleep expert Michael Breus, “Anything less is, in all likelihood, sleep deprivation.” So, when we sleep for 3 hours then wake up and try to start a brand new day, that’s the equivalent of throwing a load of laundry into a 30 minute wash cycle, then taking the clothes out after 10 minutes and trying to wear them. The cycle is simply incomplete.
Current Events
The truth is, sleep deprivation is harmful and can even be life-threatening
“Sleep deprivation is the single most dangerous aspect of any sleep disorder, because you have no idea that you are compromised cognitively, physically and emotionally,” says Breus.
Sleep deprivation affects 3 distinct areas of life:
REACTION TIME – People who operate heavy equipment or drive a vehicle are likely to have dulled reaction times when sleep-deprived, making them more prone to accidents. In fact, recent research has found drowsy driving to be just as risky as drunk driving.
COGNITION – How we think, retain memories, process information and make decisions is directly impacted by sleep deprivation. “It’s easy to miss a fine detail when sleep-deprived,” explains Breus. “We often don’t put information together correctly.” This may not seem like a big deal… until you ruin a major report for your boss, or totally forget an important appointment.
HEALTH – When we are sleep deprived, our bodies are much more susceptible to colds, flu and other ailments. Sleep deprivation weakens our immune systems since our bodies are unable to complete the necessary steps to function, leaving our bodies as vulnerable as an unlocked door — anybody and anything could just walk in. Our bodies also fail to metabolize properly, leaving undigested food and unwanted weight gain. The negative impact of sleep deprivation against our health may not always be immediately noticeable, fooling us into a false comfort, but the threat is indeed there.
Current Events
So, how do you know if you’re sleep deprived? Breus suggests counting backwards about 7 and a half hours from your required wake-up time. “If you wake up five minutes before your alarm goes off, you’ve nailed it,” he says. By the same token, if you rise feeling refreshed, you’re right on the money. If not, you’re probably sleep-deprived.
Would you gun the engine of your car for 16 to 18 hours, turn it off for 2 hours, then rev it up all over again for a brand new 16 to 18 more hours? Of course not. So why do the same to your body?
Sleep may sometimes seem like an inconvenience, but it is not negotiable. Despite modern thinking, our bodies and minds really need the consistency of a quality night’s rest to prepare and reboot for the coming day. If you regularly get less than 6 hours of sleep per night, you may wish to take a long, hard look at your schedule and your life. You may also want to consult your doctor.
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