Sleep Deprivation: What You Need to Know

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One of the most common and detrimental issues that the world battles does not have to be something as violent as war or as radical as drug abuse, it is in fact, sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can cause serious damage to almost every aspect of the human body and mind, but is often overlooked in the big scheme of things because of its seemingly unimportance in modern society. Those who run off of five hours of sleep each night are praised for their hardworking efforts, while those who achieve a full nights rest and sleep in are considered lazy and irresponsible. The truth is, the world needs to be educated on the causes, and more importantly, the effects of sleep deprivation so they can be aware of how negatively not getting enough sleep affects them.
Sleep deprivation occurs when the body does not receive the amount of sleep necessary for it to function at its peak performance. Although it seems like a fairly harmless ailment, it generates a mass amount of negative effects on the body and mind. Most cases of sleep deprivation are, for the most part, not significantly harmful, but if left unresolved, could lead to health issues and decline in mental efficiency. Those who are sleep deprived tend to become desensitized to the seriousness of their condition and become used to the consistent lack of energy and forget what it is like to feel ready for the day ahead.
One of the most significant causes of sleep deprivation is the lack of value sleep holds in today's societal standards. People do not realize just how detrimental it is to be constantly sleep deprived. It can affect anything from the heart and other organs to triggering epilepsy and other illnesses. According to Dr. James Maas, "High school and college students are ...

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...Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
Brody, Jane E. "At Every Age, Feeling the Effects of Too Little Sleep." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Oct. 2007. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
---. "Cheating Ourselves of Sleep." Well Cheating Ourselves of Sleep Comments. New York Times, 17 June 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
Esherick, Joan. Dead on Their Feet: Teen Sleep Deprivation and Its Consequences. Philadelphia: Mason Crest, 2004. Print.
Maas, James B., and Megan L. Wherry. Power Sleep: The Revolutionary Program That Prepares Your Mind for Peak Performance. New York: Quill/HarperCollins, 2001. Print.
Mara, Joy. "Drowsy Driving." Drowsy Driving. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
"Sleep Habits and Susceptibility to the Common Cold." JAMA Network. JAMA Network, 12 Jan. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.

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