The effects of insomnia, (not getting enough sleep) are not good. Sleep deprivation has a number of health problems associated with it. Some that have been found in various research studies are:
- Inflammation of the arteries can be the result of even mild sleep loss.
- Heart attack. A recent study showed that women sleeping less than 6 hours a night had a 39 % higher risk of heart attack than those who slept for 8 hours. (University of British Columbia). Heart disease in men too has been linked to side effects of insomnia and sleep deprivation.
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Increased insulin resistance , often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
- Accelerated aging
- Obesity due to suppression of growth hormone, reduced leptin secretion, and insulin resistance.
- Increase in accidents for example while driving carrying out occupational tasks etc. It has been suggested that the Exon Valdize accident was caused by tiredness rather than the captain being asleep and too drunk to command the ship. The second in command who was on the bridge had been on duty for two shifts. The Challenger disaster may well have been caused by sleep deprived NASA ground staff who made the decision that the take off could proceed when too tired to make a sound appraisal of the situation.
What affect does your sleep deprivation have on your decisions and work performance?
I know that when I am sleep deprived I am not my normal capable self. It is a horrible feeling and one that we may brush off as “just tiredness” but which in fact is a serious condition. So if you are sleep deprived or someone you care about is then you should get help quickly.
If you are simply depriving yourself of sleep because you are busy then there is an easy solution- go to bed and you will work faster and more effectively when you have had some sleep!
If you can’t sleep even when you are in bed then you need to have some help with your insomnia.
