Hi everyone! Sorry I have been gone for awhile. I have been really busy with school work and college stuff but I am starting to finish up!
I am not going to lie, but these past few weeks my sleep schedule has been really messed up and I have not been sleeping enough. I know this goes for many students who are busy with so much work. That is why I want to talk about sleep deprivation and how the effects can be quite serious.
Sleep deprivation already has the meaning in its name; it's when someone does not get the required amount of sleep for their age. All age groups have a range of the hours of sleep they should get.
0-3 months | 14-17 hours |
4-12 months | 12-16 hours |
1-2 years | 11-14 hours |
3-5 years | 10-13 hours |
6-12 years | 9-12 hours |
13-18 years | 8-10 hours |
18-60 years | 7 or more hours |
61-64 years | 7-9 hours |
65 years and older | 7-8 hours |
As you can see the younger you are, the more sleep you need. This is a problem especially for the teenage group, since teenagers have the tendency to stay up later at night. Unfortunately, this can effect performance and function for any age throughout the day. Here are some symptoms of lack of sleep:
Slowed thinking
Reduced attention span
Worsened memory
Poor decision-making
Lack of energy
Mood changes
While once in a while it may not be too bad, ongoing sleep deprivation can be detrimental to health. In fact, chronic lack of sleep has shown to:
increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases
increase the risk of diabetes as the body's regulation of blood sugar is effected
increase the risk of obesity as people tend to consume more calories
worsen immune function
lead to hormonal abnormalities
increase the risk of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder
This shows how crucial it is to get enough sleep for the body to function healthily. There are many health risks associated with sleep deprivation as this can effect every system of the body! I know, especially as a high school student, it is often hard to go to sleep on time if you have too much work. That is why it is so important to plan and not procrastinate. Always try to finish any work in the day time so at night you can rest. In turn, this will also help you not feel tired the next day! If there are other reasons why you are sleep deprived, for example, if you have trouble falling asleep, then it is best to get checked by a doctor. Sleep disorders are also a common reason for sleep deprivation. Our bodies need to function so that our systems can work properly, and the main key to that is getting enough sleep!
References
CDC. (2017). CDC - How Much Sleep Do I Need? - Sleep and Sleep Disorders. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.html
Sleep Foundation. (2020, November 3). Sleep Deprivation: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-deprivation#:~:text=The%20primary%20signs%20and%20symptoms
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