Most people are
surprised to learn that sleeping less than six or seven hours a night can
increase their mortality risk more than smoking, high blood pressure or heart
disease.
Losing as little as
one and a half hours of sleep for just one night could result in a reduction of
daytime alertness by as much as 32 percent. This loss can impair memory and the
ability to think and process information effectively.
Decreased alertness
can also affect your life by limiting your participation in activities that
require sustained attention, such as reading a book or watching your favourite
TV show. And the risk of receiving an occupational injury more than doubles
when a person is sleepy.
Car accidents are
another problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at
least 100,000 automobiles crashed, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities.
As many as 70
million Americans have sleep disturbances-which include taking a long time to
get to sleep, sleeping less and waking up frequently.
Sleep disturbances
may in fact be a symptom of a much larger problem, especially if they are
associated with irritability and mood swings. Emotional stress, racing thoughts
and restlessness can be signs of something more serious, such as bipolar
disorder.
"If someone is
experiencing restlessness and irritability, along with sadness or emotional ups
and downs for more than two weeks," said Dr. Ellen Frank, professor of
psychiatry and psychology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, "they should seek medical
attention from a specialist who is trained to diagnose or perhaps just rule out
depression or bipolar disorder."
The Depression and
Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) offers educational resources that provide
screening for sleeplessness, information on when to see a doctor and to
determine when sleeplessness might be symptomatic of a more serious illness.
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