Sleep Deprivation – The Effects

During these fast-paced and stressful times, sleep disorders are among the most common ailments affecting Americans. The sleep disorders vary, with some people suffering from mild sleeping problems such as the occasional nightmare or insomnia. Some however, suffer from excessive sleep deprivation, which can have a negative effect on their mind and body, especially if its left untreated.

What Causes Sleep Deprivation?

It’s estimated that 95% of people who suffer from sleep disorders remain surprisingly undiagnosed, which means that a large number of these folks are not actually getting the treatment they deserve. The causes of sleep deprivation vary, and it can be divided into 4 major areas. These include health complications, lifestyle, medicine side-effects and clinical disorders.

It’s important that you and your doctor exactly determine the root cause of your sleep disorder, because it will help identify the type of treatment required. For instance, those with lifestyles which affect their sleep may be required to alter their habits or refrain from activities such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake and late-night partying. Those who have sleep disorders due to clinical disorders or overmedication may be required to switch or change their medications.

When To Call Your Doctor If You Think You Have Asleep Disorder

You should seek prompt medical attention if you’re experiencing these types of sleeping problems:

- Chronic insomnia
- Snoring, brief pauses in breathing during sleep
- Sleepiness and fatigue during the daytime
- Chest pain and shortness of breath.

Many health experts agree that sleepiness and fatigue during the daytime can be a direct result of a person’s lifestyle. Drinking alcohol or caffeine and smoking are among the major causes of sleep deprivation. Working late-night shifts also alters a person’s sleeping patterns. If your sleep deprivation is brought about by lifestyle factors, your physician may ask that you have a sleep diary, so that you can record your good and bad sleep experiences. A sleep diary also includes the date you had either good or bad sleep, what you ate during the day and whether you exercised or not, and what type of stressful activities you encountered during the day.

If your sleep deprivation is caused by certain medications which alter your body’s natural rhythm, then have a frank discussion with your doctor and find out which alternative medications are right for you. While you may continue to experience a number of sleepless nights after your body adjusts to the new medicine, your sleeping patterns should return to normal once you adjust to the new medication.

Sleep is very important to our overall health. Inadequate sleep can alter our ability to think or make decisions, wreck our ability to moderate our emotions, as well as weaken and destroy our immune system, making us more prone to diseases and infections. Sleep deprivation can have serious implications on our physical and emotional stability. Once you feel like you’re experiencing some form of sleep disorder, immediately get in touch with your doctor, and have yourself diagnosed, so that your physician can quickly devise the right treatment mode for you.