Sleep Deprivation

Physical effects of sleep deprivation

In a household with a sleep apnea sufferer, there is sure to be plenty of sleep deprivation - as many a partner, child, housemate or even neighbor of a sufferer can tell you!

The short terms effects of sleep deprivation are obvious and include exhaustion, fatigue, and a general lack of energy. You may not, however, be aware of some of the more serious physical consequences of not sleeping. Quality sleep not only recharges and repairs our brains, it also repairs our bodies. Lack of sleep not surprisingly impacts on many levels. Here are some other problems that can arise from not sleeping enough:

• The body is unable to properly process glucose, leading to high blood sugar levels and other symptoms of type II diabetes (adult onset diabetes) if not type II diabetes itself. Excess glucose tends to be stored as fat, which can lead to weight gain
• Sleep deprivation increases the symptoms of aging
• Lack of sleep causes the core body temperature to be lowered, which can impair proper body functioning
• The heart may beat erratically.

Mental effects of sleep deprivation

All day long, no matter what you’re doing, your brain is constantly inputting information, processing information, and outputting information. Even on a day of rest and recreation, your brain does a lot of work - and it is vitally important that it has time to rest and recharge. Here are just a few of the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation:

• Less control over speech - as in slurring, stuttering, speaking in monotone, and choosing repetitive words and clichés. Scientists assume this occurs because the speech center of the brain actually shuts down and another, less capable part, takes over. We all know how slow and tongue-tied we can feel after a sleepless night!
• Less ability to access old memories and convert long term to short term memory - you may find it difficult to remember events fro the past
• A sleep deprived person will find it difficult to learn a new skill or concentrate on learning something new
• Less creativity, especially in regards to problem solving. Sleep deprived people tend to be slower and less accurate when solving problems
• Hallucinations and even temporary insanity can occur from a lack of REM sleep
• Impaired judgment and reduced reaction time. Sleep deprivation is comparable to alcohol intoxication when it comes to driving ability!

Continued ....

Emotional effects of sleep deprivation

Doctors may focus on the physical and mental symptoms of sleep deprivation, but there are also significant emotional symptoms as well, which - as any sufferer will know - can take a severe toll on our personal relationships and safety. Emotional problems associated with sleep deprivation are:

• Increased stress and anxiety (even panic attacks)
• A more pessimistic attitude
• Extreme sadness and, in severe cases, depression
• Extreme or uncontrolled anger (sleep deprivation is one of the major causes of road rage)

Remember that not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, so you needn't feel sleep deprived just because you are getting 6 hours of sleep and your partner is getting 8! You should try to get enough sleep to make yourself feel rested: this may mean getting anything between 6 and 9 hours of good quality sleep. 

Obviously, one of the reasons that a sleep apnea sufferer is often diagnosed is that they are theoretically getting a lot of sleep and not feeling rested. This is why it is important that you get medical diagnosis and advice if you or your partner thinks that you may have sleep apnea.

If a member of your household has sleep apnea, you might be suffering from sleep deprivation as much as they are! Sometimes, although I am uncomfortable saying it, the only way to get a good night's sleep is to remove yourself as far as possible from the noise! I personally suffered for 15 years before I moved permanently into a separate room from my husband, and the quality of my sleep (and my mental alertness and emotional state) improved enormously. You can find more advice on living with a sleep apnea sufferer here.