Lack of Sleep Causes Problems

Over a third of the American population report that they do not get 7 or more hours of sleep per night. The CDC declares that “insufficient sleep is a public health problem”.“Lack of Sleep is Affecting Americans,” declares the National Sleep Foundation. Stanford Medicine says, “…sleep deprivation is an epidemic.” 

People report various reasons for not getting enough sleep. For some its voluntary behaviors, others claim they are just too busy or stressed, and some people have insomnia. There are other factors as well that keep us awake: a partner who snores, medications that make you jittery, or children who wake you in the night. Maybe you have a cold and cannot breathe or the dog has to go out for a walk. For whatever reasons, more and more individuals do not get enough sleep during the night.

Insufficient sleep can and does cause so many problems in our society. It is linked to vehicle crashes, industrial accidents, and difficulty performing daily tasks. Sleep deprivation causes mental and behavioral disorders-it impairs your attention, reasoning, alertness, problem solving and judgement as well as increasing your risk for depression and anxiety. Sleep loss can lead to chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. Lack of sleep ages your skin and causes you to gain weight. Sleep deprivation can even be a form of torture. 

If you are not getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, you need to reassess your habits. It can be difficult to get adequate sleep. I know; I feel ya. Here are a few tips that might help you get a few more winks.