Article Advise

submitted: Jul 29th 2008 | by: LizBeresford | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 506 | |

"I just don't have time to sleep, it is such a waste of time!" Is this how you feel about sleep? Just too busy to fit in eight hours of shut eye every night? Do you feel proud of taking less sleep than other people?

If you are a "sleep less" person I have news for you. Sleep isn't optional. Sleep deprivation is dangerous to your health.

If you have built up a chronic sleep debt over several weeks you are suffering from a dangerous sleep deprivation problem. Studies show that there are many problems associated with this. Here are a just a few of them:

- Lack of sleep reduces your life span. Long term studies show that death from all causes is highest amongst adults who get less than 7 hours sleep a night.

-The immune system is impaired by sleep deprivation. Sleep researcher Eve van Cauter at the University of Chicago gave flu vaccine to subjects who had slept only four hours per night for the previous six nights. Their immune systems produced only half the normal number of antibodies in response.

Wow that means their chance of fighting off the bug was half what it should have been! Sleep deprivation could kill you if you came in contact with a serious infection. Also in that study:

a) Heart rate and blood pressure were raised.

b) Insulin resistance was up. Its a precursor of diabetes.

c) Leptin, a hormone that inhibits appetite, was reduced. That is why sleep deprivation can result in weight gain. Other studies have shown similar results.

-Critical thinking is much reduced and intellectual performance in general affected. Burning the midnight oil will not help you pass your exams.

-Reaction time is slowed, which could be fatal in some situations Sleep deprivation has been the cause of numerous accidents and combined with alcohol it can be lethal. When we are overtired we take mini sleeps without even realizing it. Imagine taking a mini sleep when driving or operating dangerous equipment. If you have a large sleep debt you are a danger to yourself and others.

Notice how often driver fatigue is mentioned in reports on various accidents. The one we probably remember best is the Exon Valdize, but airplane and road traffic accidents are frequently put down to driver fatigue in other words, sleep deprivation.

You never drive while inebriated do you? In fact its quite socially unacceptable to do so these days. But when will we get the message that drowsy driving is almost as bad? Combining drink and drowsy driving is a lethal mix.

So the bottom line is that no matter how hard it is to follow a sensible sleep routine you must do it. Going to bed late on a regular basis and suffering from chronic sleep deprivation can be lethal for you or for someone you else.

If you aren't getting to sleep because you have insomnia please take action to cure your sleeping problem. Insomnia must be taken seriously and a cure pursued. You should learn how to relax and follow basic sleep hygiene.

About the Author

If you are having trouble getting enough sleep you should now check out the Sleep Sound Insomnia CD Just listen as you are lying in bed at night and go to sleep easily and quickly. 100% Guarantee.

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