|
Sleep deprivation is a general term to
describe a state caused by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep, including
voluntary or involuntary sleeplessness and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
Sleep is as important to the human body as
food and water, but many of us don’t get enough sleep. Insufficient sleep,
inadequate quality of sleep or disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle (such as
those that occur with shift work or travelling to a different time zone) have
consequences for how we function in the daytime, causing sleepiness and
fatigue.
A sleepy fatigued person is accident prone,
judgement impaired and more likely to make mistakes and bad decisions.
Staying awake for 24 hours leads to a reduced hand-to-eye coordination that
is similar to having a blood alcohol content of 0.1. This
is why sleep deprivation contributes to road accidents and work
injuries.
Lack of sleep can also affect a child’s school
performance and could be linked to increased risk of emotional problems such
as depression.
|
