Sleep

Sleep has been sort of an issue for me for awhile now. I go through fits of insomnia, and even at my best, my ability to be distracted by unexpected sound is dramatic, to say the least. This wouldn't be such a factor if I didn't need at least 8 hours of sleep to function "normally". Due to my need for sleep and my expectation that I may have issues doing so has lead me to be pretty serious about getting sleep. Anyone who knows me knows, short of a life-or-death emergency, not to wake me up. I won't be happy.

My issues with sleep have lead me to, of course, do a little research about sleep - specifically, sleep deprivation (which is what I feel most of the time, regardless of how much sleep I get). Did you know that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers sleep deprivation to be a public health epidemic (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)?


Check out these graphics from the CDC:

There's a great article on WebMD listing 10 negative side effects (they're all negative, besides more time to "do stuff") here. Feel free to check that out and get a description of each side effect, but I just want to briefly post them here.

1.) Sleepiness Causes Accidents

2.) Sleep Loss Dumbs You Down

3.) Sleep Deprivation Can Lead To Serious Health Problems

4.) Lack of Sleep Kills Sex Drive

5.) Sleepiness Is Depressing

6.) Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin

7.) Sleepiness Makes You Forgetful

8.) Losing Sleep Can Make You Gain Weight

9.) Lack of Sleep May Increase Risk of Death

10.) Sleep Loss Impairs Judgement, Especially About Sleep

(Peri)

Sleep deprivation can also increase the chances of having a stroke, developing diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer (Huffington Post). All around, not getting the sleep you need is bad news bears.

I just wanted to share a little bit of information and try to shake a smidgen of rust off the writing portion of my brain. I want to close with a brief, but awesome TED Talk about sleep from Arianna Huffington. Sweet dreams.

Sources
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsSleep/

Peri, C. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/10-results-sleep-loss

Huffington Post. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/06/scary-sleep-deprivation-effects_n_2807026.html

Huffington, A. (0). Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/arianna_huffington_how_to_succeed_get_more_sleep.html