Category: Sleep Deprivation

“How sleep deprivation affects psychological variables related to college students’ cognitive performance,” is a Journal of American College Health (J AM COLL HEALTH) written by Pilcher JJ and Walters AS. In this article, the authors attempt to bring out a case study regarding how deprivation of sleep can affect human nature’s cognitive performance by utilizing the psychological variables related to students.

As a matter of fact, it should be noted that the authors hypothesize that sleep deprivation is such a common occurrence amongst most of the college students whose sleeping patterns are comprised of partial deprivation of sleep on certain occasions during the week, as well as, compensation patterns in which the student strive to oversleep during the weekends.

There are three questions that this study attempted to address. The first is, “does sleep loss lead to changes in self-reported levels of psychological variables related to actual performance?” Because tendencies to deprive an individual of sleep often results into increased feelings of sleep and fatigue, the authors of the article expected individuals who are sleep-deprived to record low levels of concentration, estimated performance, effort, and high levels regarding off-task recognitions.

This would be based on the ability to accurately make assessments regarding the psychological variables. Secondly, the study aimed at determining whether sleep deprivation has the power to cause significant alteration in the mood states which may have relations to the performance of an individual. In this regard, this study expected that the participants in the study would record instances of fatigue, tension, confusion, as well as, decreased vigor.

The third question in the study was related to ways of determining how sleep deprivation tend to alter the ability of people to make accurate assessments regarding particular issues, estimated performance, and effort. Various research procedures were carried out in this instance. It was expected that the individual’s decision making processes would change based on the fact that they were deprived of sleep.

This article presents various variables in the case study as demonstrated by the authors. The first is cognitive performance. This refers to a type of operation which utilizes the mental ability of an individual. Second is psychological variables. This refers to the type of variables that are related to the psychological functionality of a person (students).

Self-reports are the third variable that has been utilized by the authors of this article in their study. This refers to the individual records, highlighting the procedural performances from the students, which were taken through the case study project. The last significant variable that has been adequately used by the authors of this article is sleep deprivation.

This refers to a systematic or deliberate, infliction of torture characterized by depriving an individual of enough sleep. The sample population used in this study included 44 college students. The individual participants were expected to complete “Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal.” This was to be done either after 8 hours of sleep or 24 hours of the instance of sleep deprivation.

Upon completion of the cognitive tasks required, the participants were expected to assist in completing two questionnaires. The first was meant to assess self-reported effort, estimated performance and effort. The second was meant to assess off-task cognitions.

The results of the research indicated a poor performance amongst the participants who were sleep-deprived as compared to the ones whose sleep patterns were unaffected in terms of cognitive task performances. However, it was observed that the participants who were sleep-deprived recorded higher rates in their efforts and concentrations compared to the participants who were non-deprived of sleep.

Additional observations also indicated that the estimated performance of sleep-deprived participants was higher compared to the non-deprived participants. As a result, the authors, basically concluded that the college administration of most educational institutions are immensely unaware about the extent of damage that sleep deprivation could have on students’ ability of completion of cognitive tasks.

In terms analysis of this work, the authors of the article have done exceptionally well in terms of collection of the relevant materials that were needed for the successful completion of the study. The layout of the research suggests that the authors thoroughly did their research. Precisely, the demonstration of proper literature and calculation of the figures in the research article suggest that this was well researched and presented.

The use of logical argumentation in terms of description of the methodology also increases the credibility of this research. It is necessary to note that the authors of this article have done extensively well to boost the confidence of the readers by the use of clear facts and figures which are verifiable. As a result, the readers have been given a chance to prove the accuracy of the study.

However, in as much as the approach, display and presentation of this research have been done well, the authors’ research is limited in terms of scope. This research covers only 44 participants from one region. Logically, this is a small population distribution to base conclusions upon. The accuracy of the deductions derived from this study would, therefore, be questioned.

In terms of applicability of the research, this study was helpful in terms of provision of useful information which has boosted the knowledge base in this field of study. This study was mainly targeting the administration of educational institutions.

The authors of the article had the intention of presenting documentary evidence of research that shows that the sleep patterns of the students are relevant and significant in terms of determining the effectiveness and overall performance of the students.

As a result, this research was intended to help in convincing the educational managers and administrators to revise the curriculum and provide a more dynamic one which would ensure that the student gets adequate time for sleep. Also, this research applies to students pursuing different courses in academic institutions in that it provides useful information that can help respective students of different institutions to plan their study schedules.

The information provided in the research would help the students to plan their activities well to ensure that their sense of effectiveness in the study and overall performance are highly maintained. Additional research in this field should involve the use of diverse categories of students to determine the effects that sleep deprivation would have on them.

This would comprise of high school, middle-level College, and university students. Diversity into this line of research would provide more reliable and accurate information.

Works Cited

Pilcher, JJ, and Walters AS. How sleep deprivation affects psychological variables related to college students’ cognitive performance. Journal of American College Health (J AM COLL HEALTH), 1997 Nov; 46(3): 121-6

Introduction

The majority of the people in the society is not acquainted with the relevant information about their sleeping patterns. Sleep is one of the most important things for human beings because it has been associated with the effective development of cognitive and emotional health. Sleep deprivation has been studied by many scientists in the past to establish its effect on mental alertness and emotional configuration. Sleep deprivation is defined as a lack of sleep or sleeping for fewer hours than recommended. Sleep deprivation is a common phenomenon among people in stressing careers, children with various disorders, and people with different illnesses.

Not getting enough sleep affects all people regardless of their age; hence, its effects should be understood by psychologists across the world. There have been numerous studies conducted by various researchers in the past to develop an understanding of the negative effects of sleep deprivation on people. The studies are yet to provide conclusive evidence of the relationship between sleep deprivation and emotional behavior. This report highlights a study that was conducted to create a correlation between sleep deprivation and specific emotions. The findings of the study will be instrumental in helping psychologists around the world to diagnose different emotional behaviors in people based on their sleeping patterns.

Background

According to Laurent (1999), there is a high correlation between self-report measurements of depression and anxiety in patients. This high correlation makes it difficult for psychologists to distinguish between the two disorders in most patients. The PANAS instrument was developed to help in attaining accuracy in the measurement of depression and anxiety (Laurent et al., 1999). The study highlighted by Laurent (1999) was conducted to develop an effective measure of anxiety and depression in children using the PANAS instrument. The results indicated that the PANAS-C tool had a valid discriminatory factor in differentiating anxiety and depression. According to Watson and Clark (1988), the Positive Affect (PA) indicates the feelings of enthusiasm, being active, and alertness.

The Negative Affect (NA) is a dimension that highlights distress, anger, fear, and nervousness, among many other unpleasant emotions. It is possible to distinguish between PA and NA through the PANAS instrument and determine the nature of the psychological disorder in a patient. The PANAS instrument can be used to evaluate the effects of sleep deprivation in different people because it highlights some of the emotional behaviors associated with anxiety and depression. It is also possible for psychologists to determine whether sleep deprivation causes anxiety or depression (Watson, Clark & Tellegen, 1988). It is important to identify the emotional behaviors associated with the lack of enough sleep to isolate the emotions for diagnostic purposes of children with sleeping disorders.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the relationship between sleep deprivation and emotional behaviors. The study looks to illuminate the issues associated with not getting enough sleep. The specific emotional behaviors associated with sleep deprivation are yet to be clearly highlighted; hence, this study looks to attain the same. The paper intends to reveal the importance of sleep for people based on the negative psychological effects that the findings will link to the lack of enough sleep. The study looks to create a link between the findings of past researches on the emotional effects of sleep deprivation. The study also strives to criticize some of the limitations of the previous studies in this field and to provide recommendations for the focus of future studies. The paper is also designed to provide psychologists across the world with knowledge about the cascade of emotions that are associated with a lack of enough sleep in their patients. This information will be instrumental in the development of an understanding of the order in which the different behaviors associated with sleep deprivation are manifested.

Aims

The research aims to highlight the specific types of emotions associated with sleep deprivation. The research also looks to identify the relationship between these emotional behaviors with reference to their clustering characteristics. The study also aims at revealing the appropriate measure that might effectively help in diagnosing sleep deprivation. The study also aims at evaluating the discrete emotions through the existing measuring tools (PANAS-C) and comparing the findings with results from similar studies.

Discussion

After developing a 12-item PA and NA scales, the results highlighted a hierarchical structure with a saturated measure of the PA factor. The results revealed a significant correlation function in the positive emotions scale (interested.746 and excited.718). The 12-item scale revealed psychometric traits associated with PANAS. The Cronbach’s alpha for the PA results was 0.898. According to the results, all members of the sample space fell either under the factor 1 variable or the factor 2 variable, which indicates the validity of the instruments used. The scale means if deleted items in the table revealed that sleep deprivation has a negative effect on the emotions of the participants. The scale means if an item is deleted was highest for pain, disappointment, shaky, anger, and hostility. These results indicate that the lack of enough sleep is associated with more cases of behaviors that manifest anxiety and anger (Sagaspe et al., 2006).

Calmness, confidence, contentment, and delight were some of the lowest scoring emotions on the scale. This indicates that the PA is least manifested when the sleep deprivation variable is present in the experiment. Subjects that are exposed to the lack of sleep are likely to manifest NA. The PANAS-C scale reveals a variety of negative emotional behaviors that are a result of the psychological stress associated with the lack of enough sleep (Gaudreau, Sanchez & Blondin, 2006).

According to Tangney, Stuewig, and Mashek (2007), the type of emotional behavior portrayed by an individual depends on their ability to connect with their moral self-consciousness. The findings from this study indicate that individuals that are subject to the lack of enough sleep are likely to voluntarily portray negative emotions like anger. This study has revealed that individuals portray an array of different emotions when they are sleep-deprived; hence, it would be valid to conclude that the stress associated with sleep deprivation erodes moral self-consciousness (Tangney, Stuewig & Mashek, 2007).

According to the findings of a study conducted by Talbot et al. (2010), sleep-deprived people portray more NA than their rested counterparts. This study replicates similar findings. In this study, the sleep-deprived participants portrayed minimal PA. The relationship between anxiety and the negative emotional behaviors was found to be more correlated when the participants were sleep-deprived. Rested participants had the ability to control their negative emotions (Talbot et al., 2010).

While the evidence revealing the role of sleep deprivation in the control of emotions in individuals is quite scarce, this study has clearly revealed that the lack of enough sleep may result in the manifestation of negative emotions. These findings are similar to the study conducted by Yoo et al. (2007), which revealed that there is a relationship between sleep and emotions in individuals. Cognitive mechanisms have been overly attributed to the changes in emotions that most people experience on a daily basis, but psychologists have developed the curiosity to include other factors like sleep deprivation in their list of possible causes of negative emotional behavior in people.

Killgore et al. (2008) conducted a study that revealed that lack of sleep results in reduced emotional intelligence in individuals. Just like this study has revealed, individuals with the stress associated with sleep deprivation are less likely to show empathy for other people in their social circles. The affected individuals also portray limited signs of gratification (Walker, 2009).

Conclusion

Sleep deprivation has been linked to the development of many negative emotions. Most researchers in the past developed studies to look into the factors that cause emotional distress in individuals, but they failed to consider the role of sleep deprivation in the same. This study replicates findings from several other studies that were conducted to reveal the specific emotions that are associated with the lack of enough sleep. According to the findings of the qualitative study, the lack of sufficient sleep results in the development of NA in the PANAS-C instrument. These findings indicate that the cluster of emotions associated with sleep deprivation does not differ.

Individuals are likely to portray similar negative emotions when they are placed in the same environment of sleep deprivation. This research and the preceding studies will be helpful to psychologists across the world in their approaches to treating anxiety in patients. The provision of ample sleeping hours for anxiety patients might be a viable treatment method. Future studies should look into the potential of using sleep as a treatment method for negative emotional behavior.

References

Gaudreau, P., Sanchez, X., & Blondin, J. P. (2006). Positive and negative affective states in a performance-related setting: Testing the factorial structure of the panas across two samples of french-canadian participants. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 22(4), 240. Web.

Killgore, W. D., Kahn-Greene, E. T., Lipizzi, E. L., Newman, R. A., Kamimori, G. H., & Balkin, T. J. (2008). Sleep deprivation reduces perceived emotional intelligence and constructive thinking skills. Sleep medicine, 9(5), 517-526. Web.

Laurent, J., Catanzaro, S. J., Joiner Jr, T. E., Rudolph, K. D., Potter, K. I., Lambert, S., & Gathright, T. (1999). A measure of positive and negative affect for children: scale development and preliminary validation. Psychological assessment, 11(3), 326. Web.

Sagaspe, P., Sanchez-Ortuno, M., Charles, A., Taillard, J., Valtat, C., Bioulac, B., & Philip, P. (2006). Effects of sleep deprivation on Color-Word, Emotional, and Specific Stroop interference and on self-reported anxiety. Brain and cognition, 60(1), 76-87. Web.

Talbot, L. S., McGlinchey, E. L., Kaplan, K. A., Dahl, R. E., & Harvey, A. G. (2010). Sleep deprivation in adolescents and adults: changes in affect. Emotion, 10(6), 831. Web.

Tangney, J. P., Stuewig, J., & Mashek, D. J. (2007). Moral emotions and moral behavior. Annual review of psychology, 58, 345. Web.

Walker, M. P. (2009). The role of sleep in cognition and emotion. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1156(1), 168-197. Web.

Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. Journal of personality and social psychology, 54(6), 1063-1070. Web.

Yoo, S. S., Gujar, N., Hu, P., Jolesz, F. A., & Walker, M. P. (2007). The human emotional brain without sleep—a prefrontal amygdala disconnect.Current Biology, 17(20), R877-R878. Web.

Introduction

At present, no one is sure as to why sleep exists but it is acknowledged that sleep plays a very significant role in our lives. While scientists are at a loss explaining the varying sleeping habits of different animals, they do concede that sleep is crucial and a sleeping disorder may be detrimental to the health and productivity of a person (Carey, 2009).

In this paper, I shall illustrate the importance of regular sleep to a person. This shall be through a review of a situation in which I did not get enough sleep and the effects this had on me. The effects of long term sleep reduction shall also be discussed as well as sleeping disorders and their possible remedies.

Sleep Deprivation (Insomnia)

Under normal circumstances people often get their regular doze of sleep each night however, there are times when this is not the case. Factors such as stress, depression, fear and anxiety have been documented as major causes of sleep deprivation.

When people are affected by these stressors, Sleep ceases to have a refreshing effect on them and in some cases; they find it hard to sleep. According to the WHO (2004), these are all classic indicators of a disturbed sleep which are faced as a result of a person’s psychological state and sleep cycle changes.

This chronic sleeplessness may lead to constant feelings of fatigue, anxiety, reduced productivity and lack of concentration. Emotionally, people affected by insomnia are mostly detached and moody. Inadequate sleep disorder over a significant length of time may weaken the immune system and research shows that maintained total sleep deprivation is fatal in some animal species (WHO, 2004). The physical health of a person may also suffer as a result of sleep disorders.

Hypertension a medical condition whereby the blood pressure is gradually elevated to levels that can lead to organ damage can also occur as a result of deprived sleep. This condition, leads to such illnesses as heart attacks, renal failures or even strokes, all of which can be fatal.

Common sleeping Disorders and Drug Remedies

Sleeping disorders are describes as the inability of a person to experience regular undisrupted sleep. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the two common classifications of sleep disorders are Parasomnias and Dyssomnias (WHO, 2004). Parasomnia causes acute phenomenons during one’s sleep e.g. nightmares and sleepwalking. Dyssomnia relates to sleep disorders that are consequences of lack of sleep e.g. insomnia and sleep apnea.

Scientists have over the years worked hard to come up with medications to cure or at the least retard sleeping disorders. Wright (2001) confirms that sedatives and hypnotics are the most common treatments that have been used for insomnia over the decades. Over the counter sleeping pills containing sedating anti-histamines are effective but may result in daytime sleepiness.

Owing to the fact that sleep disorders can be a result of mental stress, antidepressants are also used to treat insomnia. Restlessness especially of the legs is a known cause of disturbed sleep. To alleviate this situation, low dosages of dopamine can deter this condition (Kalat, 2009)

However, there are several natural ways of combating insomnia. Behavioral treatment is one such remedy. The general lack of sleep may be caused by our activities during the day. Therefore in order to overcome insomnia, one should avoid taking excessive coffee during the day(4-6 hours before sleeping) because of its caffeine content, avoid taking alcohol before sleeping because it is a stimulant, eat foods that are easily digestible, ensure that you have a comfortable bed and avoid noises or bright lights in the bedroom.

In addition to this, a warm cup of milk has been known to have a calming effect on the brain. According to research, milk contains an enzyme called tryptophan and Lactium protein which help in relaxation of the brain leading to the first phase of sleep. Also avoiding arguments before going to bed is very helpful in ensuring a good night sleep.

Arguments lead to anxiety and anger, factors which stimulate brain activity. On the same note, relaxing techniques may help in having a good night sleep. Doing some knitting, light reading and abdominal breathing helps the mind relax and one can sleep peacefully.

Other than the above mentioned remedies, the most important means of overcoming insomnia is by practicing sleep hygiene. Wright (2001) articulates that the bedroom should be a place of sleep and intimacy only. This means that such behaviors as smoking, watching TV, eating or discussing marital issues should be discouraged in the bedroom. She claims that how we perceive the bed affects the level of comfort associated with it. As such, the bedroom should be cool, dark and quiet to ensure a good night sleep.

Conclusion

This paper set out to illustrate the importance of sleep by reviewing the effects of deprived sleep. An overview of the different classification of sleep disorders has been given and some common medical remedies given. From this paper, it can be authoritatively stated that regular undisturbed sleep is of utmost importance for one’s psychological and physical well being.

References

Carey,B. (2009). Sleep May Be Nature’s Time Management Tool. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/health/01mind.html?_r=1&ref=science

Kalat. J. W. (2008). Biological Psychology. USA: Cengage Learning.

WHO (2004). WHO Technical Meeting on Sleep and Health. Retrieved from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/114101/E84683.pdf

Wright, H. D. (2001). Relief from Insomnia: How to Have Deep, Natural Sleep. USA: Helen D. Wright.

Introduction

Nowadays, sleep deprivation is considered one of the most common problems among students of different educational establishments. In fact, it frequently results in poor academic performance and physical health issues. In terms of learning, sleep plays a prominent role, as this process consolidates memory and improves concentration. Therefore, despite the belief that sleeping several hours per night is a useful strategy for achieving positive goals in education, this process should occupy up to a third of the human lifespan.

Brief Information about the Issue

It is a widely known fact that numerous people face the problem of lack of sleep. For instance, approximately 37% of people ages 20-39 report this issue (Patrick et al., 2017). However, the percentage of students struggling with this problem is even higher. It is estimated that over 70% of them do not sleep the appropriate amount of time (Schlarb et al., 2017). As for the causes of such a global problem, it is essential to note several factors, such as part-time jobs, stress, alcohol, and addiction to social media platforms. Moreover, a vast number of students include energy drinks and caffeine in their nutrition, thereby, contributing to the problem of sleep deprivation. At the same time, some individuals are not aware of the fact that they are sleep-deprived. In fact, the person struggling with this issue is likely to experience fatigue, moodiness, depression, and forgetfulness. In turn, if these factors correspond to the symptoms faced by the student, the basic recommendations should be followed. Usually, it is recommended to exercise, limit daytime naps, as well as avoid drinking alcohol.

Arguments in Support of the Idea

First, an adequate amount of sleep is associated with improved grades. It can be explained by the ability of the brain to stay more focused on the process of learning. For example, the overall course grades for students getting at least 7 hours of sleep were 50 percent better compared to the students who were getting one hour less sleep (Maheshwari & Shaukat, 2019). Second, sleeping is essential for increasing the productivity of students in the context of learning. For instance, if the student goes to bed at 10, they are expected to be more productive than students who go to bed at 2 (Alotaibi et al., 2020). Thus, sleeping can be used in order to boost productivity and improve overall academic performance at university.

Counterargument

Today, there are a variety of supporters of the idea that considerable goals can only be achieved if the person dedicates to sleep no more than 4 hours per night. This belief can be considered inaccurate, as the human brains are not able to function at their best with such a limited time for the rest. The average adult should dedicate 7-9 hours to sleep in order to learn new information and develop essential professional skills (Barahona-Correa et al., 2018). If this basic human need is ignored, students will most likely suffer from a lowered ability to focus, impairment of brain development, and mental health issues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sleeping is an integral part of human life, which can either enhance its quality or worsen it. In terms of learning at university, this process can improve grades, boost productivity, and facilitate the perception of new information. Simultaneously, if the students do not get adequate sleep, they can struggle with poor coordination, lack of motivation, and lowered ability to use critical thinking skills.

References

Alotaibi, A. D., Alosaimi, F. M., Alajlan, A. A., & Abdulrahman, K. A. B. (2020). The relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance among medical students. Journal of Family Community Medicine, 27(1), 23−28. Web.

Barahona-Correa, J. E., Aristizabal-Mayor, J. D., Lasalvia, P., Ruiz, Á. J., & Hidalgo-Martínez, P. (2018). Sleep disturbances, academic performance, depressive symptoms and substance use among medical students in Bogota, Colombia. Sleep Science, 11(4), 260−268. Web.

Maheshwari, G., & Shaukat, F. (2019). Impact of poor sleep quality on the academic performance of medical students. Cureus, 11(4), e4357. Web.

Patrick, Y., Lee, A., Raha, O., Pillai, K., Gupta, S., Sethi, S., Mukeshimana, F., Gerard, L., Moghal, M. U., Saleh, S. N., Smith, S. F., Morrell, M. J., & Moss, J. (2017). Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive and physical performance in university students. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 15(3), 217−225. Web.

Schlarb, A. A., Friedrich, A., & Claben, M. (2017). Sleep problems in university students: An intervention. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 13(2), 1989−2001. Web.

Transmission of the nerve impulse

The structure of a neuron is made up of dendrites, soma (the cell body), the axon and the axon terminal. The dendrites intercept messages and change them to electrical impulses by developing a potential difference between the outside and the inside (McCance & Huether, 2014). The potential difference creates ion charges and potassium, sodium and chlorine concentration. When the neurons have more than 2000 dendrites, they efficiently transmit and receive information. The cell body denotes the main body of the cell with all the diverse organelles such as the nucleus. It collects the stimulus coming from the dendrites and then fires through the axon, the longest extension of the cell wall (McCance & Huether, 2014). In the axon terminal, there are the synaptic end bulbs where the electrical signals cause the neurotransmitter, small vesicles found in the tip of the axon, to release a chemical (Acetylcholine) into the synaptic gap between the neuron and the other tissue that leads to another neuron.

Central nervous system and Peripheral nervous system

The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord while the PNS consists of all the endings of the nerve extensions in all organs forming the web that extends throughout the entire organ. The brain consists of the cerebral cortex, the limb system and the central core, which control daily life activities (Durmer& Dinges, 2005). The spinal cord consists of nervous tissue whose function is to transmit neural waves between the rest of the body and the brain. The PNS is made up of the sensory nerve that transmits information from the body or peripheral stimuli to the CNS, and the motor nerve that transmits messages from the CNS to the organs and limbs. The somatic nervous system of the motor nervous system enables voluntary movement of the septal body. The autonomic nervous system of the motor nervous system is responsible for controlling internal organs (Durmer& Dinges, 2005). The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system arouses internal organs when the body faces challenging external stimuli. In such a condition, it dilates the pupils, accelerates the heartbeat, inhibits digestions, stimulates glucose release from the liver, stimulates adrenal glands to release adrenaline and noradrenaline and finally relaxes the bladder.

Assessment of the man’s condition

The patient has parasomnias because he is experiencing undesirable physical events that happen during entry into the sleep and within the sleep. The patient has deviated from his normal sleeping patterns.

Affected brain parts

Parasomnias events manifest through the activation of CNS, which is transmitted to skeletal muscle and automatic nervous system channels.

Stage of sleep

The patient has abnormal sleep patterns that are demonstrated in his work, church, traveling and everywhere. The patient has terrifying nightmares and feels paralyzed. Clearly, this is the fourth stage of non-rapid eye movement (Durmer& Dinges, 2005). This stage has slow metabolic rates and makes it difficult to wake up. This stage is the deepest stage of quiet sleep associated with dreaming and sleep-walking.

Electrophalogram

The electropherogram will speed up the sleep staircase causing the brain activities to be more active. This will lead to more demand for oxygen and glucose because of TEH desynchronized, complex and fast brain waves. Even though the body is inactive, the brain will follow the activities of the lung.

Types of treatment

The recommended treatment is the use of tricyclic antidepressants or benzodiazepines (Avidan & Zee, 2006). Benzodiazepines will reduce the patient’s sleep latency and increase the total sleep after it has been consumed for several days.

References

Avidan, A. Y., & Zee, P. C. (2006). Handbook of sleep medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Willaims & Wilkins.

Durmer, J. S., & Dinges, F. D. (2005). Neurocognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Seminars in Neurology, 25(1), 117-129.

McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2014). Pathophysiology: The biology basis for disease in adults and children (7th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Health Sciences.

Have you ever thought: “Okay, just five minutes more, and then I will go to sleep”, taking your cellphone in your hands? After that, perhaps, you spent several hours in the social nets and woke up, heavy headed? You are not alone, as almost half of the Americans has sleeping problems, and about third of them considers themselves evening persons and dislike any morning activities.

This is a sad statistic, as sleep deprivation has a detrimental effect on the human body. Our bodies are given to us by the God, and it is our responsibility to care about them. A sound body means a sound spirit, and a person is much more effective after a good sleep. As a student, I feel that it is much more difficult to concentrate on topic after surfing the internet late at night. It is also confirmed by the researches: for example, it is proved that chronic sleep deprivation leads to the worsening of memory, concentration, decision-making and other complex activities (Guraieb-Chanin et al., 2017). Thus, sleep deprivation makes us a worse version of ourselves, while we should preserve what God gave us and try to self-improve in order to become better persons.

I will validate this statement by the statistics concerning sleep deprivation and by explaining the importance of healthy sleeping. Let us take a closer look on this topic that is very important. First of all, sleep deprivation is closely connected with neurological disorders (Williams, 2017). It also can cause such problems as hypertension, diabetes, depression, anxiety, metabolic outcomes and emotional instability. If the outcomes affect not only our body, but also our emotional state, then it means that we can become less pleasant persons to communicate with. We can easily get involved into conflicts and can be easier upset. It contradicts living in harmony with God, as when the person is irritated and moody, it is more difficult to be virtuous and to be a source of joy for others.

This brings me to my second point: despite the importance of sleeping, almost half of Americans fails to have enough sleep. This can be caused by the work, as shift work, work in military or medical fields is often linked with insomnia (Williams, 2017). Caffeine also can be a reason of sleeping problems, as it changes the circadian rhythms in the human body. Besides, using the gadgets before sleeping also can lead to late going to bed and, consequently, to sleep debt. Some people have to take care of their children, which also leads to the lack of sleep. However, if there are no sufficient reasons for breaking the regime, it is much better to try to discipline yourself and to sleep about eight hours a day. A person who sleeps well can achieve goals and to communicate with other people much more effectively. Sleep makes life more joyful, as the body becomes healthier, and the mind is concentrated on the right things.

This brings us to the next point: the According to 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “you are God’s temple, and God’s spirit dwells in you” (English Standard Version Bible). Thus, God wants us to take care of our body, because the state of the body influences the mind. If the person is focused on the negative sides of life, for example, on the diseases caused by sleep deprivation, it can be more difficult to feel grateful to God for life and the whole creation.

Summing up, I can say that sleep deprivation is a common problem in the U.S. which is harmful both for the body and the mind. People should discipline themselves and organize their day in the way they would get enough time to have rest. As long as the body is the temple for the spirit, I encourage you to change your sleep habits. It will make your life much more pleasant, and you will become a more efficient and healthier person.

References

Guraieb-Chahin, P., Cadena-Fernández, A., Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, L., Valdés-Ferrer, S. I., Gulias-Herrero, A., & Cantú-Brito, C. G. (2021). Cognitive effects of chronic sleep deprivation in internal medicine residents. Revista Mexicana de Neurociencia, 22(2), 51–55. Web.

Williams, L. (2017).Sleep Deprivation: Global Prevalence, Dangers and Impacts on Cognitive Performance. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. English Standard Version Bible. 1 Corinthians 3:16. Web.

Introduction

The quality of sleep significantly impacts the health and performance of the human body. Adequate sleep is necessary for the normal functioning of all body systems. Chronic sleep deprivation significantly increases the risk of both physical and mental illness and plays a significant role in car accidents (Dolezal et al., 2017).

Discussion

Today, the problem of insomnia and other sleep disorders is relevant for many population groups, particularly university students (Ezati et al., 2020). There are many ways to deal with this problem, including exercise. In particular, eight weeks of aerobic exercise increased sleep duration among subjects aged 18 to 26 (Ezati et al., 2020). Another study showed that twelve-week daily exercise helped reduce sleep disturbance and increase subjective sleep quality compared to a control group (Wang et al., 2021). These findings point to significant promise for the use of exercise in the treatment of sleep disorders, but a broader body of data must be considered for more solid conclusions.

A meta-analysis of thirty-four articles indicates a significant relationship between exercise and several sleep characteristics of the subjects, such as total sleep duration, wake time after sleep onset, and daytime sleepiness (Dolezal et al., 2017). Researchers offer various hypotheses to explain this phenomenon, such as the balance of glycogen metabolism at the cellular level, the influence of changes in body temperature, or the concentration of cytokines (Dolezal et al., 2017). Some studies have shown a negative correlation between sleep duration and exercise, which, however, can be explained by the methodology. In some cases, with more physical activity, people have less time to sleep (Dolezal et al., 2017).

Conclusion

However, most researchers still agree that exercise improves the subjective quality of sleep rather than its immediate duration (Dolezal et al., 2017). Further research on this phenomenon would help clarify the details of the interaction between exercise and sleep and develop new approaches to treating sleep disorders.

References

Dolezal, B. A., Neufeld, E. V., Boland, D. M., Martin, J. L., & Cooper, C. B. (2017). Interrelationship between sleep and exercise: a systematic review. Advances in preventive medicine, 2017. Web.

Ezati, M., Keshavarz, M., Barandouzi, Z. A., & Montazeri, A. (2020). The effect of regular aerobic exercise on sleep quality and fatigue among female student dormitory residents. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 12(1), 1-8. Web.

Wang, F., & Boros, S. (2021). The effect of daily walking exercise on sleep quality in healthy young adults. Sport Sciences for Health, 17(2), 393-401. Web.

Introduction

The functioning of the human body is influenced by a number of factors, which are mainly determined by the health status of an individual. Oftentimes, people seek medication when the body deviates from its normal and usual functioning mechanisms. Through different activities and processes, the body is able to use energy and replenish itself. Sleeping is one of the activities that has a direct effect on the functioning of the body.

This sleep deprivation essay explores how the functioning of the human body is influenced by various factors, primarily determined by an individual’s health status. While most people do not understand the implications of sleep, human effectiveness solely depends on the amount of time dedicated to sleeping. However, for various reasons, people fail to get enough sleep daily, weekly, or on a regular basis.

What Is Sleep Deprivation?

This cause and effect of sleep deprivation essay defines sleep deprivation as a condition occurring among human beings when they fail to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is defined as a condition that occurs when human beings fail to get enough sleep. Many experts argue that sleep deficiency is widespread even though most people do not consider it to be a serious issue, which affects their (Gaine et al.). Sleep deprivation has become a major problem in the United States, with almost 47 million suffering from the condition (Wang and Xiaomin). This lack of sleep can lead to a variety of physical and mental health issues, impacting daily functioning and quality of life.

The present essay about sleep deprivation defines sleep deprivation as a condition that occurs among human beings when they fail to get enough sleep. Many experts argue that sleep deficiency is widespread even though most people do not consider it to be a serious issue that affects their lives. Sleep deprivation has become a major problem in the United States, with almost forty-seven million suffering from the condition (Wang and Xiaomin). Among other reasons, one may get insufficient sleep in a day as a result of various factors. Some people sleep at the wrong time due to busy daily schedules, while others have sleep disorders, which affect their sleeping patterns. The following segment of the paper discusses the causes of deprivation.

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation may occur as a result of factors that are not known to the patients. This is based on the fact that sleep deprivation may go beyond the number of hours one spends in bed. In some cases, the quality of sleep matters in determining the level of deprivation.

In this context, it is possible for one to be in bed for more than eight hours but suffer from the negative effects of sleep deprivation. Whilst this is the case, there are people who wake every morning feeling tired despite having spent a recommended number of hours in bed (Griggs et al.14367).

Sleep deprivation can be caused by medical conditions, which may include but are not limited to asthma, arthritis, muscle cramps, allergies, and muscular pain. These conditions have been classified by researchers as common medical conditions that largely contribute to most of the cases of sleep deprivation being witnessed in the United States.

Similarly, these medical conditions have a direct impact on not only the quality but also the time one takes in bed sleeping. It is worth noting that sometimes people are usually unconscious to realize that their sleep is not deep enough (Wang and Xiaomin). This also explains the reason why it is not easy for a person to recall any moment in life when he or she moved closer to waking up.

Treatment of cases like sleep apnea is important because it affects the quality of sleep without necessarily awakening the victim. This is because medical surveys have revealed fatal effects of sleep apnea, especially on the cardiovascular system. Besides these, one is likely to experience breathing difficulties caused by insufficient oxygen.

Even though the treatment of sleep deprivation is important, it has been found that some drugs used to treat patients may worsen the case or lead to poor quality of sleep. It is, therefore, necessary for the doctor to determine the best drugs to use. Discussions between doctors and victims are imperative in order to understand patients’ responses (Conroy et al. 185).

Sleep deprivation is also caused by sleep cycle disruptions, which interfere with the fourth stage of sleep. Oftentimes, these disruptions are described as night terrors, sleepwalking, and nightmares.

Though these disorders are known not to awaken a person completely, it is vital to note that they may disrupt the order of sleep cycles, forcing a person to move from the fourth stage to the first one. Victims of these disruptions require attention in order to take corrective measures.

In addition, there are known environmental factors which contribute to several cases of sleep deprivation. However, doctors argue that the impact on the environment is sometimes too minimal to be recognized by people who are affected by sleep deficiency (Gaine et al.). In other words, these factors affect the quality of sleep without necessarily arousing a person from sleep.

Common examples include extreme weather conditions, like high temperatures, noise, and poor quality of the mattress. As a result, they may contribute to a person’s awakening, depending on the intensity when one is sleeping.

Moreover, the impact of these factors may develop with time, thus affecting one’s quality of sleep. In addition, most of the environmental factors that contribute to sleep deprivation can be fixed easily without medical or professional skills. Nevertheless, the challenge is usually how to become aware of their existence.

Lastly, sleep deprivation is caused by stress and depression, which have been linked to other health disorders and complications. Together with some lifestyles in America, these factors are heavily contributing to sleep deficiency in most parts of the world. Even though they might not be acute enough to awaken an individual, their cumulative effects usually become significant.

There are countless stressors in the world that affect youths and adults. While young people could be concerned with passing exams, adults are normally preoccupied with pressure to attain certain goals in life. These conditions create a disturbed mind, which may affect a person’s ability to enjoy quality sleep.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation has a host of negative effects which affect people of all ages. The commonest effect is stress. Most people who suffer from sleep deficiency are likely to experience depression frequently as compared to their counterparts who enjoy quality sleep (Conroy et al. 188). As a result, stress may lead to poor performance among students at school.

Research has revealed that students who spend very few hours in bed or experience disruptions during sleep are likely to register poor performance in their class assignments and final exams. Additionally, sleep deprivation causes inefficiency among employees.

For instance, drivers who experience this disorder are more likely to cause accidents as compared to those who are free from it (Griggs et al.14367). This is based on the fact that un-refreshed people have poor concentration and low mastery of their skills.

Besides stress and anxiety, sleep deprivation has a wide-range of health-related effects. For instance, medical experts argue that people who spend less than six hours in bed are likely to suffer from high blood pressure. Quality sleep gives the body an opportunity to rest by slowing down the rate at which it pumps blood to the rest of the body (Wang and Xiaomin).

Inadequate sleep implies that the heart has to work without its normal and recommended rest. Additionally, sleep deprivation is known to affect the immune system. People who experience this disorder end up with a weakened immune system, leaving the body prone to most illnesses. This reduced immune response accumulates and may become fatal with time.

Sleep paralysis is also a common effect of inadequate sleep. This is due to disruption of the sleep cycle. It primarily occurs when the body is aroused during the fourth stage of the sleep cycle. In this case, the body is left immobile as the mind regains consciousness. Due to this conflict, one may experience pain and hallucinations.

Managing Sleep Deprivation

Based on the negative effects of sleep deprivation, there is a need to manage this disorder among Americans. Firstly, it is necessary for people to seek medical advice concerning certain factors which could be contributing to this condition, like stress and infections (Wang and Xiaomin).

Proper counseling is also vital in stabilizing a person’s mental capacity. Physical exercises are also known to relieve a person from stressful conditions, contributing to sleep deficiency. Lastly, it is essential to ensure that the environment is free from noise and has regulated weather conditions.

Conclusion

Sleep deprivation remains a major problem in America, affecting millions of people. As discussed above, sleep deprivation is caused by a host of factors, ranging from environmental to health-related issues. Moreover, sleep deficiency has countless effects, most of which may become fatal in cases where the disorder is chronic.

Works Cited

Conroy, Deirdre A., et al. “The Effects of COVID-19 Stay-at-home Order on Sleep, Health, and Working Patterns: A Survey Study of US Health Care Workers.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, vol. 17, no. 2, Feb. 2021, pp. 185–91.

Gaine, Marie E., et al. “Altered Hippocampal Transcriptome Dynamics Following Sleep Deprivation.” Molecular Brain, vol. 14, no. 1, Aug. 2021.

Griggs, Stephanie, et al. “Socioeconomic Deprivation, Sleep Duration, and Mental Health During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 21, Nov. 2022, p. 14367.

Wang, Jun, and Xiaomin Ren. “Association Between Sleep Duration and Sleep Disorder Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Stroke Among Adults in the United States.” Medical Science Monitor, vol. 28, June 2022.