Sleep deprivation a health hazard
Adequate sleep is essential to health and 55 percent of America’s 18 – 29-year-olds are not getting enough, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
Sleep deprivation can result from physical problems, but Jeremy Andra, a registered polysomnographic technologist with the RxSleep Disorders Center, a branch of Advanced Research Systems, said many people under-sleep because of lifestyle choices.
“Most people can tell when they are sleep deprived, they just don’t realize the effects,” Andra said.
Andra said recent research studied the similarities between alcohol use and sleep deprivation and found the effects were almost the same.
According to the NSF Web site, Americans have reduced their average sleep time by 20 percent in the past century, and certain individuals are more vulnerable to sleep deprivation.
Students, shift workers, travelers and people suffering from acute stress, depression or chronic pain have a greater incidence of sleeplessness, according to the NSF Web site.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) identified young adults age 12 to 25 as a high-risk population for problem sleeplessness.
According to a press release, the NIH said one reason for this age group’s sleepiness is trying to do too much.
In a Sleep in America omnibus poll from 2000, 53 percent of young adults said they would sleep less in order to get more done.
According to the NSF poll, 60 percent of American adults experience sleep problems which may result in a greater difficulty concentrating, accomplishing required tasks and handling minor irritations. Other effects cited by the NSF are increased difficulties involving memory, learning and logical reasoning.
Forty percent of adults in the United States report they are so sleepy during the day it interferes with common daily activities, according to the NSF.
Natalie Jorgensen, a junior majoring in hydrogeology, said, as a student she is definitely sleep deprived.
“I make stupid decisions and stay up late, then wake up early for school,” Jorgensen said. “I try to have fun while going to school and it’s difficult to do both.”
Jorgensen said she got an average of six and one-half hours of sleep each night.
She said she noticed a lack of sleep made her not pay attention as much in or even miss class, and her test scores were affected as well.
The NSF agreed, and according to their Web site, sleeplessness is a significant predictor of absenteeism and academic performance.
Sleep deprivation can affect relationships as well, because according to the NSF Web site, increased irritability is also a result of sleeplessness.
The most harmful effects of sleep deprivation involve driving while tired.
Fifty-three percent of American adults reported having driven while drowsy in the past year, according to the NSF poll.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 100,000 accidents each year are related to fatigue. These accidents kill more than 1,500 people and injure at least 71,000.
Drivers age 16 to 25 are involved in more than one-half of these accidents, according to the NHTSA.
On NSF’s Web site at www.sleepfoundation.org, NSF executive director Richard Gelula said 22 percent of young adults report driving faster when they are tired, and the combination of sleepy risk-takers can be deadly.
“At any age, the effects of sleepiness range from annoying to deadly,” Gelula said. “But younger adults appear to be at a higher risk for suffering consequences due to sleepiness.”
According to the NSF Web site, the average adult needs eight hours of sleep each night, but the amount varies depending on the person.
Thirty-seven percent of Americans who responded to the NSF poll reported sleeping eight or more hours a night, with 13 percent sleeping less than six hours.
Weekend sleep patterns show more Americans sleep the suggested time on Saturday and Sunday in order to “catch up” on their sleep deficit from the work-week.
Andra said many people are sleep deprived by choice and just keep telling themselves they can sleep in on the weekend.
Stress, drinking alcohol or caffeine in the late afternoon, using nicotine, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular sleep schedule, distractions or doing mentally intense activities right before getting in bed can have detrimental effects on sleep as well, according to the NSF. Gender, marital satisfaction, hours worked, family status and age all affected sleep patterns.
According to the NSF, one out of every two people suffers from sleeplessness at some point in their lives, and it is estimated 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from serious sleep disorders undermining their quality of life and health.
Major catastrophes in the past have been attributed to human error relating to fatigue, according to the NSF, and decreased productivity costs the national economy as much as $100 billion annually.
Andra said those who are sleep deprived need to determine whether the problem is self-inflicted or a physical ailment.
“If you are tired during the day, something is wrong,” Andra said. “You need to ask yourself, is it something I am doing? Can I change it? If not, there is a problem.”
Physical problems such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and insomnia can all contribute to sleeplessness and should be discussed with a doctor, according to the NSF.
Adequate sleep is essential to health and 55 percent of America’s 18 to 29-year-olds are not getting enough, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
Sleep deprivation can result from physical problems, but Jeremy Andra, a registered polysomnographic technologist with the RxSleep Disorders Center, a branch of Advanced Research Systems, said many people under-sleep because of lifestyle choices.
“Most people can tell when they are sleep deprived, they just don’t realize the effects,” Andra said.
Andra said recent research stuBy Lisa Ogden
Senior Writer
Adequate sleep is essential to health and 55 percent of America’s 18 – 29-year-olds are not getting enough, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
Sleep deprivation can result from physical problems, but Jeremy Andra, a registered polysomnographic technologist with the RxSleep Disorders Center, a branch of Advanced Research Systems, said many people under-sleep because of lifestyle choices.
“Most people can tell when they are sleep deprived, they just don’t realize the effects,” Andra said.
Andra said recent research studied the similarities between alcohol use and sleep deprivation and found the effects were almost the same.
According to the NSF Web site, Americans have reduced their average sleep time by 20 percent in the past century, and certain individuals are more vulnerable to sleep deprivation.
Students, shift workers, travelers and people suffering from acute stress, depression or chronic pain have a greater incidence of sleeplessness, according to the NSF Web site.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) identified young adults age 12 to 25 as a high-risk population for problem sleeplessness.
According to a press release, the NIH said one reason for this age group’s sleepiness is trying to do too much.
In a Sleep in America omnibus poll from 2000, 53 percent of young adults said they would sleep less in order to get more done.
According to the NSF poll, 60 percent of American adults experience sleep problems which may result in a greater difficulty concentrating, accomplishing required tasks and handling minor irritations. Other effects cited by the NSF are increased difficulties involving memory, learning and logical reasoning.
Forty percent of adults in the United States report they are so sleepy during the day it interferes with common daily activities, according to the NSF.
Natalie Jorgensen, a junior majoring in hydrogeology, said, as a student she is definitely sleep deprived.
“I make stupid decisions and stay up late, then wake up early for school,” Jorgensen said. “I try to have fun while going to school and it’s difficult to do both.”
Jorgensen said she got an average of six and one-half hours of sleep each night.
She said she noticed a lack of sleep made her not pay attention as much in or even miss class, and her test scores were affected as well.
The NSF agreed, and according to their Web site, sleeplessness is a significant predictor of absenteeism and academic performance.
Sleep deprivation can affect relationships as well, because according to the NSF Web site, increased irritability is also a result of sleeplessness.
The most harmful effects of sleep deprivation involve driving while tired.
Fifty-three percent of American adults reported having driven while drowsy in the past year, according to the NSF poll.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 100,000 accidents each year are related to fatigue. These accidents kill more than 1,500 people and injure at least 71,000.
Drivers age 16 to 25 are involved in more than one-half of these accidents, according to the NHTSA.
On NSF’s Web site at www.sleepfoundation.org, NSF executive director Richard Gelula said 22 percent of young adults report driving faster when they are tired, and the combination of sleepy risk-takers can be deadly.
“At any age, the effects of sleepiness range from annoying to deadly,” Gelula said. “But younger adults appear to be at a higher risk for suffering consequences due to sleepiness.”
According to the NSF Web site, the average adult needs eight hours of sleep each night, but the amount varies depending on the person.
Thirty-seven percent of Americans who responded to the NSF poll reported sleeping eight or more hours a night, with 13 percent sleeping less than six hours.
Weekend sleep patterns show more Americans sleep the suggested time on Saturday and Sunday in order to “catch up” on their sleep deficit from the work-week.
Andra said many people are sleep deprived by choice and just keep telling themselves they can sleep in on the weekend.
Stress, drinking alcohol or caffeine in the late afternoon, using nicotine, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular sleep schedule, distractions or doing mentally intense activities right before getting in bed can have detrimental effects on sleep as well, according to the NSF. Gender, marital satisfaction, hours worked, family status and age all affected sleep patterns.
According to the NSF, one out of every two people suffers from sleeplessness at some point in their lives, and it is estimated 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from serious sleep disorders undermining their quality of life and health.
Major catastrophes in the past have been attributed to human error relating to fatigue, according to the NSF, and decreased productivity costs the national economy as much as $100 billion annually.
Andra said those who are sleep deprived need to determine whether the problem is self-inflicted or a physical ailment.
“If you are tired during the day, something is wrong,” Andra said. “You need to ask yourself, is it something I am doing? Can I change it? If not, there is a problem.”
Physical problems such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and insomnia can all contribute to sleeplessness and should be discussed with a doctor, according to the NSF.died the similarities between alcohol use and sleep deprivation and found the effects were almost the same.
According to the NSF Web site, Americans have reduced their average sleep time by 20 percent in the past century, and certain individuals are more vulnerable to sleep deprivation.
Students, shift workers, travelers, and people suffering from acute stress, depression or chronic pain have a greater incidence of sleeplessness, according to the NSF Web site.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) identified young adults age 12 to 25 as a high-risk population for problem sleeplessness.
According to a press release, the NIH said one reason for this age group’s sleepiness is trying to do too much.
In a Sleep in America omnibus poll from 2000, 53 percent of young adults said they would sleep less in order to get more done.
According to the NSF poll, 60 percent of American adults experience sleep problems which may result in a greater difficulty concentrating, accomplishing required tasks and handling minor irritations. Other effects cited by the NSF are increased difficulties involving memory, learning and logical reasoning.
Forty percent of adults in the United States report they are so sleepy during the day it interferes with common daily activities, according to the NSF.
Natalie Jorgensen, a junior at Utah State University majoring in hydrogeology, said, as a student she is definitely sleep deprived.
“I make stupid decisions and stay up late, then wake up early for school,” Jorgensen said. “I try to have fun while going to school and it’s difficult to do both.”
Jorgensen said she got an average of six and one-half hours of sleep each night.
She said she noticed a lack of sleep made her not pay attention as much in or even miss class and her test scores were affected as well.
The NSF agreed, and according to their Web site, sleeplessness is a significant predictor of absenteeism and academic performance.
Sleep deprivation can affect relationships as well, because according to the NSF Web site, increased irritability is also a result of sleeplessness.
The most harmful effects of sleep deprivation involve driving while tired.
Fifty-three percent of American adults reported having driven while drowsy in the past year, according to the NSF poll.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 100,000 accidents each year are related to fatigue. These accidents kill more than 1,500 people and injure at least 71,000.
Drivers age 16 to 25 are involved in more than one-half of these accidents, according to the NHTSA.
On NSF’s Web site at www.sleepfoundation.org, NSF executive director Richard Gelula said 22 percent of young adults report driving faster when they are tired, and the combination of sleepy risk-takers can be deadly.
“At any age, the effects of sleepiness range from annoying to deadly,” Gelula said. “But younger adults appear to be at a higher risk for suffering consequences due to sleepiness.”
According to the NSF Web site, the average adult needs eight hours of sleep each night, but the amount varies depending on the person.
Thirty-seven percent of Americans who responded to the NSF poll reported sleeping eight or more hours a night, with 13 percent sleeping less than six hours.
Weekend sleep patterns show more Americans sleep the suggested time on Saturday and Sunday in order to “catch up” on their sleep deficit from the work-week.
Andra said many people are sleep deprived by choice and just keep telling themselves they can sleep in on the weekend.
Stress, drinking alcohol or caffeine in the late afternoon, using nicotine, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular sleep schedule, distractions or doing mentally intense activities right before getting in bed can have detrimental effects on sleep as well, according to the NSF. Gender, marital satisfaction, hours worked, family status and age all affected sleep patterns.
According to the NSF, one out of every two people suffers from sleeplessness at some point in their lives, and it is estimated 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from serious sleep disorders undermining their quality of life and health.
Major catastrophes in the past have been attributed to human error relating to fatigue, according to the NSF, and decreased productivity costs the national economy as much
as $100 billion annually.
Andra said those who are sleep deprived need to determine whether the problem is self-inflicted or a physical ailment.
“If you are tired during the day, something is wrong,” Andra said. “You need to ask yourself, is it something I am doing? Can I change it? If not, there is a problem.”
Physical problems such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and insomnia can all contribute to sleeplessness and should be discussed with a doctor, according to the NSF.