Sleep and Sleeplessness

        The benefits of sleep impact nearly every area of daily life, however, some people don’t realize how much sleep they need and why it is so important.  As a result, sleep often becomes a neglected part of life. Especially for college students, sleep sometimes is a rare thing.   College life presents many new stressful challenges such as variable schedules, repeated deadlines and academic obligations which may require all-night study especially at examination time and late night computer work.  In order to meet these demands college students voluntarily change their sleeping routines.  College students often deprive themselves of sleep during the week and attempt to catch up on sleep by sleeping long hours on the weekend.  Students who are more concerned about using their time effectively to meet all of the demands placed on them are more likely to experience sleep problem.   Student’s poor sleep routines and quality can impose mental and physiological penalties.  Decreasing sleep periods   to less than 6 hours per night can cause the reduction of attention, concentration, memory, problem-solving ability, and diminished academic performance, often resulting in poor grades.  Sleep deprived students tend to avoid more difficult tasks. They also are often not aware that their academic difficulties may be related to lack of sleep.

It is no surprise that poor sleep routines may negatively impact academic performance.  A student who is so exhausted that they doze during class knows that it is disadvantageous to learning.  Larks (or morning people) are more likely to earn a better grade than night owls. Students who are tired in the morning tend to receive a lower grade than students who stick with a more regular sleep routine.  There are two biological factors that drive you to bed. These factors are the biological clock and the day-to-day sequence.  Larks and owls do not differ in their preferred amount of sleep but rather in their timing of sleep in reference to daytime.  The difference comes from the way their everyday cycle works. Some people can work very well in the morning and others work better at night.  To alter this pattern people must try cycle adjustment.  Sleep patterns vary between individuals, as well as a function of other factors such seasons, stress, timing of sleep, timing of the light period, exercise, and many more. 

Another common sleep problem is narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic disease of the brain and spinal cord that causes an uncontrollable desire to sleep. Fortunately this sleep problem can be treated with medication.  Modafinil is a prescription medication that is helpful in the treatment of narcolepsy or some forms of depression.  The most common side effects of modafinil are headache, nervousness, anxiety and insomnia.  Modafinil can decrease or increase the activity of enzymes in the liver.

The video, “Sleep and Sleeplessness: The Current Scene” on Hockenbury’s website, shows a study of  sleep deprivation issues.  The problem of sleeplessness is not new and yet more and more people are becoming victims of the consequences of sleep deprivation. More and more people are sleeping less each day without realizing the very harmful effects that not sleeping on time and at regular intervals for the required time can have on our physical as well as mental health.  The human body needs a certain amount of sleep every day for it to function effectively. One of the great benefits of sleep is that it allows our brain to better process new experiences and knowledge, increasing our understanding and retention.   If a person does not sleep over long periods of time, many important parts of the brain stop operating properly and start to affect such bodily functions as body temperature, hormone levels, heart rate and other vital body functions.  Over time, chronic sleep deprivation may lead to an array of serious medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even early mortality.  Researchers have shown that lack of sleep may lead to type 2 diabetes by affecting how your body processes glucose, which is the carbohydrate your cells use for fuel. In addition, sleep deprivation may make activities such as driving or operating machines very dangerous.  In adults, sleep problems can occur because of disease processes, anxiety, depression, and worry or stress. It is important for people to realize that sleep deprivation is a growing problem and that it can cause serious medical and health problems.  Many people tend to take this problem lightly and not pay much attention to how much they are sleeping.  This video also shows the benefits of sleep on improving the quality and the length of our life. Therefore, it is vital to place a priority on getting a consistent full eight hours of sleep.