How can the lack of sleep affect us?

Did you know that 15% of the population sleepwalks? Usually, episodes of sleepwalking occur about a few hours after falling asleep. Fun fact: some of us only dream in black and white. An article on cbc.ca says that a lack of sleep is an epidemic among Canadian teens, and has doctors worried. In this essay, I will describe what sleep does to our minds., how it affects our health, and how a lack of sleep can cause sleep disorders or make them worse.

What does lack of sleep do to your mind?

What does sleep do to your mind? According to HealthLine experts say that “ Afternoon naps benefit people of any age by resting the brain and clearing out our jumble of daily thoughts.” New studies show that afternoon sleep could make people over the age of 60 mentally sharper. Another expert warned that taking longer naps might result in a lack of sleep. With the lack of sleep, students might find it more difficult to focus and pay attention, so they’re more easily confused. Sleepiness also impairs judgment. Sleep is required for us because it makes our brain active throughout the day, as well as moving our bodies.

An important cause of sleepwalking is the lack of sleep. According to cleavelandclinic.com“Children who sleepwalk at a young age mostly grow out of it by the time they are in their teens”. About 18% of people sleepwalk at some point in their life”. Sleepwalking is harmful to people because if they bump or hit anything they would be completely unaware of what happened until they wake up.

Does sleeping less affect your health?

According to healthysleep.com” poor or inadequate sleep can cause stress or irritability, while healthy sleep can enhance your well-being. Children ages 11-14 require at least 8-10 hours of sleep each day to keep their minds focused and concentrated during the day. Some effects of lack of sleep are high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, or strokes. The lack of sleep decreases the ability to concentrate to your full potential. I think that the lack of sleep in children is usually caused by children using their devices for longer periods throughout the night.

Chronic sleep deprivation could also affect your appearance. Over time, it could lead to premature wrinkling beneath your eyes. There is also a link between the lack of sleep and an increase in the amount of the stress hormone cortisol in your body. Collagen protein keeps your skin smooth. In other words, a lack of sleep could mean more wrinkles!

Can a lack of sleep cause sleep disorders?

Types of sleep disorders include insomnia, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. What is the meaning of a sleep disorder? Well, let me tell you, According to cleavelandclinic.com “a sleep disorder is a condition that impairs your sleep or prevents you from restful sleep.” An article on cleavelandclinic.com, says that “everyone can experience sleep issues from time to time. However you may have a sleep disorder if you regularly experience difficulty sleeping, you are often tired during the day even though you slept for more than seven hours the night before, or you have a reduced or impaired ability to perform well in regular daytime activities.

Did you know that about 70 million people in the United States suffer from sleep disorders? There are approximately 80 different types of sleep disorders. Lack of sleep among humans increases the risk for people to get Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out simple tasks.

What do I think?

What’s my opinion on the lack of sleep, you ask? Well, my opinion is that sleeping during the night refreshes your brain so you can concentrate throughout the day. Lack of sleep can cause you to feel sleepy and irritated throughout the day. But having too much sleep is just as bad for your health. Each human should get at least 8-10 hours of sleep each night for their mind and body to function properly. I believe that no matter what excuse you have unless it is an emergency, you should always get a good night's sleep.

To conclude, a lack of sleep during the night affects your mind because your brain doesn’t have enough time to process the information you had taken in during the day. Sleeping less does affect your health because not having enough sleep can cause stress and irritability. Finally, the most common sleep disorder, Alzheimer's, can be caused by a lack of sleep. Thank you for listening to my presentation, and taking the time to learn more about why you require lots of sleep during the night.

References

Common Sleep Disorders: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11429-common-sleep-disorders#:~:text=Common%20sleep%20 disorders%20like%20 insomnia

Curley, B. (2021, January 26). Afternoon Naps Can Boost Your Mental Agility — Here’s Why. Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/afternoon-naps-can-boost-your-mental-agility-heres-why#:~:text=Afternoon%20Naps%20Can%20Boost%20Your%20Mental%20Agility%20%E2%80%94%20Here%27s%20Why&text=Researchers%20say%20people%20over%20age

McCue, D. (2019, January 29). Lack of sleep is an “epidemic” among Canadian teens. Here’s why it has doctors worried. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/national-sleep-deprivation-teenagers-youth-learning-1.4929842

Sleep and Mood | Need Sleep. (n.d.). Healthysleep.med.harvard.edu. https://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/need-sleep/whats-in-it-for-you/mood#:~:text=The%20Takeaway

Sleepwalking (Somnambulism) Causes & More | Cleveland Clinic. (2014). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14292-sleepwalking