Effects of Sleep Deprivation
One of the most basic functions of the human body or any animal is to sleep. Without getting enough sleep, one can die after approximately two weeks. Along the way, however, if the sleep of children or adults is consistently disturbed they can experience a multitude of negative effects that can harm themselves and others. Today, adults and students are losing more sleep than ever before and can fail to understand the negative consequences of sleep deprivation. In the United States alone, approximately 40% of adults are receiving less than the suggested seven to eight hours of sleep (Jones). Interrupting the natural sleep cycle and experiencing sleep deprivation can effect one physically, mentally, and emotionally. …show more content…
These hallucinations occur roughly after ninety hours of wakefulness or a combined total of sleeping less than the optimal amount required. Extreme cases of sleep deprivation can cause inaccurate image formation on the retina of the eyes, alluding to dimmer images, double vision, tunnel vision, and disruption of mental image storage (Orzel 100). The visual handicaps that can be placed upon the individual can be a serious danger to them. For example, if the individual was walking in a busy environment such as a city, he or she risks walking out in front of traffic. Having to deal with false imagery and noises can place a high amount of stress on a sufferer of sleep deprivation and can even cause him or her to lose more …show more content…
Even if sleep deprivation is brief, it can make the individual irritable, frustrated, or even aggressive in some circumstances. A study was held on teenagers that were sleep deprived who showed higher levels of aggression, rather than ones who were getting regular sleep. As sleep deprivation increases, the sufferer can begin to lose interpersonal relationships with the people around them (Orzel 104). Over time he or she might isolate themselves from society as he or she does not have the energy or are not in the mood to talk to others. A major affect that was noticed among sleep-deprived sufferers was depression. Research from the health experts at WebMD have made the connection between sleep disorders and depression. Insomnia is the condition that is most closely linked with causing depression. Insomnia is another form of sleep deprivation where one has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Other impacts on mood were anxiety and in some situations insanity occurred in the patients (Peri 1). If sleep loss is only short-term, it can still cause changes in mood and emotions; once sleep loss progresses, it can become much
One of the most basic functions of the human body or any animal is to sleep. Without getting enough sleep, one can die after approximately two weeks. Along the way, however, if the sleep of children or adults is consistently disturbed they can experience a multitude of negative effects that can harm themselves and others. Today, adults and students are losing more sleep than ever before and can fail to understand the negative consequences of sleep deprivation. In the United States alone, approximately 40% of adults are receiving less than the suggested seven to eight hours of sleep (Jones). Interrupting the natural sleep cycle and experiencing sleep deprivation can effect one physically, mentally, and emotionally. …show more content…
These hallucinations occur roughly after ninety hours of wakefulness or a combined total of sleeping less than the optimal amount required. Extreme cases of sleep deprivation can cause inaccurate image formation on the retina of the eyes, alluding to dimmer images, double vision, tunnel vision, and disruption of mental image storage (Orzel 100). The visual handicaps that can be placed upon the individual can be a serious danger to them. For example, if the individual was walking in a busy environment such as a city, he or she risks walking out in front of traffic. Having to deal with false imagery and noises can place a high amount of stress on a sufferer of sleep deprivation and can even cause him or her to lose more …show more content…
Even if sleep deprivation is brief, it can make the individual irritable, frustrated, or even aggressive in some circumstances. A study was held on teenagers that were sleep deprived who showed higher levels of aggression, rather than ones who were getting regular sleep. As sleep deprivation increases, the sufferer can begin to lose interpersonal relationships with the people around them (Orzel 104). Over time he or she might isolate themselves from society as he or she does not have the energy or are not in the mood to talk to others. A major affect that was noticed among sleep-deprived sufferers was depression. Research from the health experts at WebMD have made the connection between sleep disorders and depression. Insomnia is the condition that is most closely linked with causing depression. Insomnia is another form of sleep deprivation where one has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Other impacts on mood were anxiety and in some situations insanity occurred in the patients (Peri 1). If sleep loss is only short-term, it can still cause changes in mood and emotions; once sleep loss progresses, it can become much