A recent article in Medical News Today Knowledge Center suggest sleep deprivation may contribute to the risk of obesity.
A study presented at the Baltimore 2018 SLEEP conference, which was referenced in the article, confirms what many people already know – loss of sleep is a common problem and impacts many individuals. Although occasional sleep challenges are a nuisance, ongoing sleep challenges should be discussed with your physician because sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on your health.
Below are some key points, found within the article, about sleep deprivation.
Sleep loss alters normal functioning, can lead to a decreased attention span and disrupts the ability to focus on environmental sensory input.
Lack of sleep has been implicated as playing a significant role in tragic accidents involving airplanes, ships, trains, automobiles and nuclear power plants.
Children and young adults are most vulnerable to the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
Sleep deprivation can be a symptom of an undiagnosed sleep disorder or other medical problem.
When you fail to get your required amount of sufficient sleep, you start to accumulate a sleep debt.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) offers suggestions on the amount of sleep individuals need each day. As expected, the range is dependent on the age of the individual. Experts say that infants need 12-16 hours while adults need at least 7 hours of sleep. In addition, the CDC clearly indicates that it is not only the amount of sleep, but the quality of sleep gained each day which impacts your health and well-being.
If you are someone with on-going sleep challenges, you are encouraged to discuss this with your physician. If you and your physician feel you might benefit from a sleep study the NARMC Sleep Center might be able to help identify your issue.
For more information, call the NARMC Sleep Lab at 414-4559.