Combating Sleep Deprivation Effects
At any given period of time, more than 70 million people in the US suffer from some form of sleep deprivation or other significant sleep disorder. It can be related to excessive work stress, home stressors and the hectic aspects of our daily lives that keep us up at night worrying or wondering how to overcome these things. Our bodies do not like sleep deprivation and we suffer as a result of it.
The Common Sleep Deprivation Effects
Some of the more common sleep deprivation effects include loss of memory, poor concentration, problems speaking and problems with motor coordination. There are often severe consequences of being unable to get a good night’s sleep and we don’t often recognize it until it is too late. Sleep should take an increased priority in your life so that you pay attention to how much sleep you are getting and how much quality sleep you are getting. If you don’t know if you are suffering from sleep depression, see your doctor to discuss the situation and perhaps have a sleep study done.
Little is recognized by the public when it comes to sleeping problems and sleep disorders. It is not a part of normal medical training for medical staff so the lack of knowledge goes from doctors down to the lay public. If being tired is the only side effect of being sleep deprived, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. But the truth of it is that there are many more serious consequences of sleep deprivation that are both physical and behavioral in nature.
Why does sleep deprivation happen? Sometimes we are so busy that we just don’t have the time to sleep. Other times, we try to sleep but our minds or bodies don’t let us. We have aches, pains, worries or anxieties that impede our ability to sleep. There are other conditions, such as periodic limb movement disorder, restless legs syndrome or depression that impact the way we sleep. Even working shifts can impact the kind of sleep we get.
If you have any of these issues, then sleep deprivation may be your ultimate problem and you may need to do something about it.
Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Are you fatigued during the day? Do you awaken at night? Is your appetite different? Do you have depression or anxiety? Do you have problems with concentration or memory? Are your physical reflexes poor? Do you have mood swings or irritability? These are all symptoms of sleep deprivation and play up the devastation in can do to your health. Things like appetite changes and depressive symptoms aren’t always thought of as being related to sleep deprivation but, in fact, they are. Think also of car accidents and other accidents that can be related to sleep deprivation.
Sleep deprivation effects can be mild, moderate or severe. There are a lot of herbal supplements out there that can help you sleep, including Chamomile, Valerian Root, Hops, Passion Flower and other herbal remedies. Even the smell of lavender can make a big difference in how well we sleep.