We all are aware that having a good sleep gives your brain the needed break from the stresses of the day, and it helps you stay energized and active.
A study from the University of Rochester provides direct evidence for why your brain needs a good sleep. It discovered that when you have a proper sleep, your brain removes toxic proteins, which are by-products of neural activities when you’re actively doing your day-day business.
When you don’t get the right amount of sleep, these harmful proteins remain in your brain cells, causing havoc by limiting your ability to think fast. As reported by Fortune magazine, lack of sleep costs the United States over $411 billion annually.
Not having enough sleep limits your brain’s function across board. It reduces your ability to digest information and solve complex problems, drastically reduces creativity, increases your stress levels, and decreases memory recollection– especially students.
So, what is sleep deprivation?
Sleep deprivation is a condition that can be defined as a disrupted sleep-wake cycle or lack of sufficient sleep. It is not a chronic disease in itself, but it can give rise to poor health conditions.
If you have spent an entire night turning and tossing on your soft bed, you will feel cranky, out of sorts, or just tired. But the long-term effects of lack of adequate sleep is real and much more damaging than making you feel grumpy all the time.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, 3-5% of obesity in adults is caused by sleep deprivation.
Research also conducted by Medscape shows that 37.9% of people reported falling asleep during office hours in the last 30 days.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.11″]
Sleep Deprivation Symptoms
Noticeable sleep deprivation symptoms are as follows:
- Constant yawning
- Mood changes and poor concentration
- Acute tendency to doze off when inactive for a short while, e.g., when watching television
- Reduced libido
- Lack of motivation
- Increased carbohydrate cravings and appetite
9 Reasons of Sleep Deprivation at Night
So, what are the reasons for sleep deprivation? Here are 9 reasons why a lot of people don’t enjoy a good night’s sleep. Find out if you’re affected by any of these:
Worry or anxiety can mess with your state of mind such that sleep eludes you for an extended period. Studies reveal that approximately 75 percent of people with sleep deprivation problems have either anxiety or depression.
2. Too Much Light
Nearly everyone has one smart device or another. And while it may be fun to watch Netflix on your iPad close to bedtime or watching TV shows, your body responds negatively to the short-wave blue light that is emitted by these smart gadgets.
This is true for LED, incandescent, and even compact fluorescent lights. Sleep hormones usually begin their duties at say 9 or 10 pm. But if your room is not dark, your body reacts by holding off the production of melatonin.
And this makes it incredibly harder for you to fall asleep.
It may be true that drinking red wine, spirits, or even beer can help you to hit the sack early, recent studies have shown that consuming too many alcoholic beverages can disrupt your sleep.
You will, at first, get more sleep at the start of the night. But because your kidneys do their job well, your bladder gets full, and your sleep will be disrupted.
In most cases, getting right back to sleep becomes difficult, and you will not enjoy the quality of sleep you first had before you woke up to empty your bladder. The result is that you will not feel as rested as you ought to feel.
4. Too Much Coffee
Research has shown that the consumption of too much coffee can result in sleep deprivation. Caffeine, a bitter alkaloid that is usually found in most coffee beverages, effectively blocks the action of adenosine, a sleep-inducing chemical that originates from the human brain.
The alkaloid can also have a considerable impact on the amount of melatonin – a sleep hormone – that you produce. This eventually results in restless sleep or difficulty in nodding off.
A study conducted in Israel a few years ago showed the impact of caffeine on the human body. Participants were divided into two distinct groups; half were given caffeinated coffee, and the other half were given decafs. The study showed that the first group took twice as long to sleep off. They also had less than half of melatonin in their systems compared to the other group who took decaffeinated coffee.
5. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Restless Legs Syndrome is a nerve disorder in which you experience tingling of the legs. Studies show that approximately 5 percent of the population has this disorder.
It can result in difficulty falling asleep, especially when you wake up to shake your legs to prevent tingling. And it can get worse if you are stressed.
6. Discomfort or Pain
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and back pain are two leading sleep disrupters in the world today. GERD is a health condition in which the sphincter in the esophagus cannot prevent the backup of contents from the stomach into the truth. Although it usually occurs during the day, it can also be a nighttime condition.
7. OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)
This severe – and widespread – condition is as common as diabetes. Your breathing stops periodically, and it takes a minute to restart it. It occurs when the airway is blocked or when the soft tissue at the back of your throat collapses. The primary symptom of this condition is loud snoring.
Research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information has shown that more than 50% of diagnosed sleep apnea problems are reported in people aged 40 and above.
As you grow older, it is common to experience prolonged periods of wakefulness, especially early in the morning. This is as a result of getting less of the deepest stages of sleep. And for that reason, many older folks become light sleepers as any noise can wake them up. It is reported that half of all people older than 65 have sleeping disorders.
9. Late Night Snacks
Eating too close to the time you go to bed may cause heartburn and spell disaster for much more than your diet. Many individuals around the world are guilty of this issue.
Do you have problems sleeping at night? Then it would be best if you considered talking to your physician. They will test for any underlying health problems that may be responsible for sleep deprivation.