Sleep Shortages

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Lack of sleep is becoming more and more common in today's busy society. The problem is that missing some sleep can be as bad as getting no sleep. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that many people who are living on less than the standard eight hours may not be aware how tired they are or how the shortfall is affecting their brains.

Many people assume that their bodies will adapt and live with less sleep, but this is not the case according to new research. Researchers found that people who slept four to six hours per night reacted more slowly than they would have on eight hours. This poor performance was equivalent to people who did not sleep at all for two nights. Yet these people said they did not feel tired. This means that those who didn't get enough sleep didn't necessarily feel tired and didn't realize that the sleep shortage was affecting their performance.

In addition to affecting mental and physical performance during the day, sleep deprivation can also lead to health challenges including:


Obesity: sleep plays a role in the body's ability to secrete neurohormones (hormones in the brain). As the amount of hormone secretion decreases, the chance for weight gain increases.

Elevated Blood Pressure: Your blood pressure naturally goes down during your sleep. But lack of sleep interrupts this cycle, potentially leading to hypertension and cardiovascular problems.
Diabetes: The body's ability to use insulin could be impaired, possibly leading to diabetes. Studies have shown that individuals who get less than 6 hours of sleep per night are at increased risk of diabetes.

Impaired Immunity: The immune system needs time to rest and repair the body. Studies have shown that individuals who do not get enough sleep have decreased immune responses and an increased incidence of infections and illnesses.

According to the National Sleep Foundation 2002 poll, as many as 47 million adults may not be getting the minimum amount of sleep they need at night. Although the actual number can vary from person to person, adults need an average of 8.16 hours of sleep during a 24-hour cycle.

Lack of sleep becomes an even bigger problem during the holiday season as people try to add in shopping, holiday parties and other activities into their already busy schedules. Many experts believe that sleep shortages during the holiday season are one of the factors that contribute to the increased incidence of colds, flus and other illnesses during and immediately following the holiday season. Help keep your body and mind healthy by making sleep a priority.

Sleep is not a waste of time and is actually valuable. Research shows that those who get adequate sleep are more productive during the day and get sick less often.

I hope you enjoyrd it. Happy Xmas!

[T-Dawgg]

I always make sure to get atleast 8 hours of sleep if i dont, it diff. makes a big difference