Sleep Deprivation

1059 Words3 Pages

Losing sleep produces significant consequences to the overall health of a body. There have been numerous tragedies in history linked to errors by tired, sleep-deprived humans. Two major events caused by fatigue were the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and the NASA Challenger shuttle explosion. The horrendous outcomes of these events are why humans need a better understanding of how sleep affects their quality of life. (NSF) When sleep is lost, there may be detrimental effects to your health and the well-being of others.
Sleep is “the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious”. (English) A person who sleeps well will awake more refreshed and alert. A good night’s sleep has a major impact on how a person looks, feels, and their ability to function normally on a daily basis. (What) Everyone must sleep because sleep is essential in sustaining normal levels of cognitive speech, memory, and critical thinking. The brain’s development is directly affected by the amount of sleep the body receives. (BBC)
The sleep-cycle is what makes everyone sleep and wake up every night and morning. The basic mechanisms of the sleep-wake cycle consist of approximately 8 hours of nocturnal sleep and 16 hours of being awake. This cycle is controlled by combination internal influences of both sleep homeostasis and circadian rhythms. Homeostasis is “the process by which the body maintains a steady state of internal conditions such as blood pressure, body temperature, and acid-base balance”, and Circadian rhythms “refer to the cyclical changes-like fluctuations in body temperature, hormone levels, and sleep that occurs over a 24 hour-period”. (NSF)
There are two types of sleep. The first type, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the a...

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... hours before bedtime, exercise regularly, avoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, and avoid alcohol. (Healthy)
Sleep deprivation is a severe problem that can cause a variety of negative effects in everyday lives. Sleep is required for our survival and relied on for our mental and physical wellbeing. Because there is a greater awareness of the problems associated with sleep deprivation, our society is very fortunate to have the resources to seek the help that is needed.

Works Cited

BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
"English Definition of "sleep"" Sleep Noun (NOT AWAKE). N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
"Healthy Sleep Tips." Sleeping Tips & Tricks. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
"How Sleep Works." - National Sleep Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
“What Happens When You Sleep?" What Happens When You Sleep. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
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Sleep Deprivation