Sleep deprivation is an easily-developed type of sleep disorder commonly known as insomnia. This sleeping disorder affects the pattern, or consistency, of a person’s sleeping habits. Whether you are not sleeping enough or not sleeping well, this disorder has been linked to numerous health issues and heightened health risks. Insomnia is an easily recognizable disorder that clearly affects your mental and physical performance, and has also shown to negatively affect emotional function and understanding. The diagnosis of this disorder is often overlooked and symptoms are mistakenly attributed to a hectic schedule at work, home, or other areas in life.
Although it seems common to have a lack of sleep, too little sleep is what poses the highest risk to the body, mind, and habits of a person’s life. Lack of sleep can be caused by numerous things, including stress, depression, anxiety, life schedule, diet, or even just by choice. Being irritable, excessively tired, cognitively disrupted, fatigued, or suffering from a weakened immune system, memory loss, inattentiveness, and even hunger spurts are a few of the signs recognized from the cause of sleep deprivation.
Sleep deprivation is a disorder that can be a danger to the host as well as others. Accidents, and incidents have occurred due to sleep deprivation and the unavoidable effects.
In February of 2009, Colgan air Flight 3407 crashed into a home in Clarence Center New York, killing the resident as well as all 49 passengers aboard; this crash was determined to be caused by pilot fatigue. The National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 Poll stated that around 103 million people have fallen asleep at the wheel. Of course these things can be avoided altogether by encouraging a healthy sleep schedule. Your health as well as your life can greatly be improved through such practice. Listed below is a bit of suggestive tips to help get on the right side of sleep.
- Ensure comfortability before and during sleep: Unpleasant mattresses and bedding are known to disrupt a full sleep.
- Remove any distractions: Over these past several years, we have become more and more attached to our electronics, but studies have shown this keeps our brain stimulated and makes it more difficult for us to relax. Try to stop usage of your hand-held devices an hour before you plan to go to sleep, and avoid using electronics or watching movies while in bed.
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule: Even if your sleep schedule varies in time, try to get the same number of hours each day.
- Encourage a positive environment for your place of sleep: Lighting, sounds, and unpleasant vibrations are disruptive to sleep.
- Use natural sleeping aids: Binaural beats have been used to aid sleep and cure insomnia as well as aromatherapy with Lavender scent, or by taking natural Melatonin.
- Avoid stimulants at least 1 hour before bed: Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and other forms of stimulants are known to discourage sleeping well, or sleeping altogether.
Of course, not every individual has the option to correct these things, but it is best to at least try. Recognizing the root of the reason is the first step, and even making small changes can have a large effect. There is truly no better cure to insomnia then a good rest.
Further interesting material: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/important-sleep-habits#1
American Sleep Associations Input: https://www.sleepassociation.org/sleep/sleep-deprivation/
More info on Binaural beats: https://www.sixstepstosleep.com/binaural-beats-sleep-meditation/
Healthy sleep tips: http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips
https://draxe.com/insomnia-cures/
More info on Flight 3407: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colgan_Air_Flight_3407