Sleep Deprivation - Essay Example

            Sleep deprivation can have short-term and long-term effects on a person’s body. The long-term effects can be harmful to one's overall health usually caused by the short-term effects. Eventually, overall, in one way or another, sleep deprivation does have an effect on one’s pocketbook.

            WebMD tells us that in the short term sleep deprivation decreases our performance and alertness, which decreases memory and cognitive impairment, leading to stressful relationships, poor quality of life, occupational injury, and ultimately automobile injury. 

            Furthermore, WebMD tells us the long term effects of sleep deprivation are associated with serious medical conditions which include: high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, obesity, psychiatric problems, ADD, mental impairment, fetal and childhood growth retardation, injury from accidents, disruption of bed partner’s sleep quality, and a poor quality of life overall.

Journal 2: Monitor on Psychology

            Monitor on Psychology is the journal put out by the American Psychological Association (APA). Back in 2001, they released an article on how sleep deprivation hurts the health of teens. The APA shows the association between sleep deprivation and lower grade marks in schools. And researchers in Minnesota noticed that after the start time change from 7:15 a.m. to 8:40 a.m., which took place in 1997; that grade marks were slightly higher and students complained less of being sleepy in class

            Furthermore, researchers, also, discovered that as children start to progress into puberty that melatonin, which controls the circadian timing system of the brain, begins to taper off later than less mature children. Basically means the brain falls asleep later in the day, the older a person gets.

            The APA wrote an article in their journal, Monitor on Psychology, in October 2001, on teens and sleep deprivation. It states that teens have the least amount of sleep of anyone. Usually, most are in a haze as they move about their day. Some state that it is nearly abuse for a teen to get up less than 8 hours after going to bed. Therefore, suggesting a time change of high school from a 7:30 AM start time to an 8:40 AM start time.

            Researchers are trying to change the start time of high school to help with improving the health and grades of young people. Furthermore, they even want to check out the middle school students’ sleep habits to see if their health can be improved as well.

Current Events 1: Night Shift Work

            This article from CNN.com shows their association with Health Magazine (also. Haelth.com). It shows that a woman’s risk of getting type 2 diabetes, usually, increases the more time that she puts in with shift work. The study that the article reports on shows the reader that people who worked night shifts even for as little as three years were 20% more likely to develop diabetes than those who worked day shifts and 60% more likely if they clocked at least 20 years.

            Furthermore, the research shows that the balance of the blood-sugar metabolism and energy balance gets out of whack with the more irregularity that a person’s work hours are. The study found out that shift workers tended to smoke more, sleepless, and have unhealthier diets than those who work more stable daytime work schedules.

            Women whose schedules are rotational between day and night shifts tend to have a higher risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. And that risk level gets higher the longer they work the rotational schedules. Furthermore, our internal body clocks, if disrupted can lead to insulin resistance and rising blood sugar levels, which are tell-tale signs of diabetes.

            Also, suggests that since most professional work irregular schedules, that could be the reason of the increasing incidences of type 2 diabetes in western societies. Also noted, was the fact, that shift workers tended to sleep less, smoke more, and eat worse diets than others. However, “The overall risk associated with rotating shift work is probably due to the combination of biological factors resulting from disruption of circadian rhythms and behavioral risk factors. (Gardner, 2011)”

Current Events 2: A good night’s sleep.

            This article from the Southeast Missourian shows that sleep deprivation can affect our general health from immunity, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Also, it can result in excessive sleepiness in the daytime and morning headaches. Furthermore, “if you don’t get good sleep, your concentration, memory, strength, and ability to function are decreased. (Collier, 2011)”

            It is suggested that people not put a TV in the bedroom and only set it up for sleeping and nothing else. Disturbance in sleep can lead to the possibility of sleep apnea, which affects 18 million Americans, causing people to repeatedly pause their breath during sleep.

            The article shows us that having good health, in general, starts with the maintenance of good sleeping habits. Since you want to be functional and not lose your concentration, memory, strength, and ability to function, which are all decreased without a good night’s sleep.

            Thus, the articles suggest getting into a good sleep routine to maintain and ensure a more restful night. Although it is not easy for everyone, since there are 18 million Americans affected with sleep apnea and many more that have not yet been diagnosed. All in all, whether or not you have a sleeping disorder getting a good night’s sleep will make you feel more restful, feeling like a new person.