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What Problems are Caused by Lack of Sleep?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

Lack of sleep, whether intentional or unintentional, can be extremely dangerous as well as unhealthy. Drowsy driving is one result of not enough sleep and this is known to have caused tragic and likely preventable car crashes. Studies have also linked a lack of sleep to diseases such as cancer. Getting enough sleep each night is important. Children, teens and young adults may need at least 10 hours while most adults require seven or eight hours of sleep per night.

Less than six hours of sleep nightly can lead to problems. Lack of sleep can cause difficulty in thinking and focusing. It also causes sleepiness and dozing off during the day and many fatal and serious car crashes have been caused by sleep deprived drivers who just "close their eyes for a minute." The body requires enough sleep to function properly just as it needs enough food and water.

A lack of sleep can affect work performance.
A lack of sleep can affect work performance.

Studies of sleep deprived people show that they have more inflammation in their bodies that places them at a higher risk for disease than people who consistently get adequate sleep. Lack of sleep disrupts proteins, hormones and other balances in the body. Sleep deprivation is thought to be a risk factor for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease as well as obesity.

Children can suffer in school and become lethargic if they don't receive enough sleep.
Children can suffer in school and become lethargic if they don't receive enough sleep.

Some people intentionally try to function on less sleep to have more time awake, but this is thought to be an unhealthy way of living. The entire body including the brain needs adequate sleep for proper functioning. In some cases, lack of sleep isn't intentional but rather people have problems falling asleep and this is called insomnia. Sleeping pills aren't recommended for dealing with insomnia since a person may become addicted to the medication. Avoiding caffeine and stressful events before bedtime can help prevent insomnia.

A consistent lack of sleep can be unhealthy and dangerous.
A consistent lack of sleep can be unhealthy and dangerous.

Staying with a regular sleep schedule can be one of the best ways to avoid insomnia and lack of sleep since the body becomes used to a regular sleeping pattern. People with disorders such as sleep apnea should get treatment since this condition causes a lack of sleep as well as prevents proper breathing. Those with sleep apnea have interrupted sleep because they may stop breathing hundreds of times during the night. Symptoms of sleep apnea include dosing off and experiencing fatigue during the day as well as waking up during the night.

Discussion Comments

anon260682

What's the case if you wake up from lack of sleep then later on you find out that you are having a difficulty in breathing? Sleep apnea is when you are sleeping. How about if you are already awake?

anon236773

Can the lack of sleep cause someone to injure or kill someone else (who is causing the lack of sleep, e.g., snoring)?

lapsed

@robert13 - There are reports of at least two people who claim to have not slept in decades. A man named Thai Ngoc was known to have not slept for 33 years and appeared to be in good health. Al Herpin is another one.

But there is also a serious condition called Fatal Familial Insomnia, which is extremely rare but does result in death. Other than that, I don't think it's possible to stay awake so long that you die.

robert13

Can you die from lack of sleep? Has anyone died from incurable insomnia?

redstaR

Lack of sleep is not only dangerous both medically and in terms of car accidents, it also makes you look significantly worse. I know this first hand from bouts of insomnia lasting upwards of seventy two hours. By the end of it I'd lost a lot of weight, had extremely bloodshot eyes with blurred vision, I was pale and generally looking sickly. This is an extreme case of course, but even pulling an all nighter is not going to leave you looking or feeling your best.

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    • A lack of sleep can affect work performance.
      By: ryanking999
      A lack of sleep can affect work performance.
    • Children can suffer in school and become lethargic if they don't receive enough sleep.
      By: Susan Stevenson
      Children can suffer in school and become lethargic if they don't receive enough sleep.
    • A consistent lack of sleep can be unhealthy and dangerous.
      By: Sandor Kacso
      A consistent lack of sleep can be unhealthy and dangerous.
    • High doses of caffeine may cause insomnia.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      High doses of caffeine may cause insomnia.
    • Researchers say that most adults require eight hours of sleep per 24-hour period.
      By: Sanjay Deva
      Researchers say that most adults require eight hours of sleep per 24-hour period.
    • Drowsy driving increases the likelihood of getting into a car accident.
      By: Deyan Georgiev
      Drowsy driving increases the likelihood of getting into a car accident.
    • People who have trouble sleeping at night might be affected by feelings of anxiety.
      By: Karen Winton
      People who have trouble sleeping at night might be affected by feelings of anxiety.
    • Physical problems associated with a lack of sleep include daytime drowsiness and lethargy.
      By: Alliance
      Physical problems associated with a lack of sleep include daytime drowsiness and lethargy.
    • Sleeping pills aren't recommended for insomnia.
      By: Serggod
      Sleeping pills aren't recommended for insomnia.
    • A lack of sleep can increase a person's anxiety level.
      By: Innovated Captures
      A lack of sleep can increase a person's anxiety level.
    • Fatigue is caused by a lack of sleep.
      By: Minerva Studio
      Fatigue is caused by a lack of sleep.