Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Deprivation
‘What effects does sleep deprivation have on people?’ Assessment Type 4: Investigation – STAGE 2 ESL

CONTENTS PAGES
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
DEFFINITION………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………3
STATISTICS………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………….4
CAUSES & EFFECTS…………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………4
SOLUTIONS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….5
CONCLUSION…...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5
BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6

INTRODUCTION
As its known sleep plays an important role in our everyday life and studies have exposed that the optimum amount of sleep a person should get each night is seven to eight hours (McClure, 2010). However, many people struggle to get their optimum sleep hours due to various reasons (Anthony, 2014). This report will focus on sleep deprivation, covering some of the main causes behind these phenomena, followed by statistics and summed up by some recommendations.

DEFFINITION
Sleep deprivation is the form of not having the amount of sleep each person should have according Cirelli (2014) there are two types of sleep deprivation, this include acute and chronic. Acute sleep deprivation refers to one who cannot sleep at all. This usually lasts one or two days. However, a chronic sleep deprivation exists when one is having less sleep than the amount of sleep required (Reuters, 2014).

CAUSES & EFFECTS
Sleep deprivation is caused by many factors involving the sleep disturbance, for example environmental events, such as excessive noise or too much light. It may also result from a variety factors, including work demands, social and family responsibilities, medical conditions, and sleep disorders. As sleep debt accumulates, individuals may experience reduced performance, increased risk for accidents and death, and detrimental effects on both psychological and physical health (McClure, 2010). Some of the physical factors include poor diet and exercise.

Sleep is essential to optimal functioning, and ignoring the need for sleep has many negative consequences, including irritability, exhaustion, lack of concentration, and impaired judgment. Sleep disturbance can also be an indication of a larger medical condition or psychological disorder. It may, for instance, be a symptom of an anxiety or mood disorder. Furthermore, sleep disturbance that is chronic can bring on or exacerbate serious psychological disorder. Thus, it is generally advisable to consider getting a medical Examination and psychological counseling if sleep disturbance persists (Goel, 2014). For female individuals lack of poor sleep can also cause by puberty changes, throughout the body, puberty releases a sleep phase delay, which causes the person to have difficulties to sleep before 11pm (Kingston et al 2014). Sleep deprivation effects the frontal lobes of the brain, the frontal lobes control executive function, it also effects the ability to make decisions, from memories, plan for the future and inhibit socially undesirable behavior in other words fighting with a class mate (Hackethal, 2013).

STATISTICS
Going early to bed and early to rise makes people healthy, wealthy and wise (National Sleep Foundation, 2014). Sleep deprivation not only occur because of general reasons like work, family or social life but it also occurs because of health problems as it was shown from the sleep disorder statistics that in Australia, over 1.2 million people experience sleep disorders (Kingston et al, 2014). Some of the major disasters in history have been attributed to sleep deprivation. The 1989 Exxon Valdex oil spill of Alaska, the Challenger space shuttle disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear accident have all been linked to human errors where sleep deprivation played a role (Kingston et al, 2014).

It was also found that 60% of the people under the age of 18 complained of being tired during the day, 15% of students fall asleep during the class (National Sleep Foundation, 2013). Overtime, sleep deprivation leads to serious consequences for academic performance, social behavior and health and safety of the nation’s youth. Children who have sleep disorders or sleep breathing disorders earned lower grades then those without problems sleeping on average night. Studies show that 13% of children with difficulty sleeping had failing grades. 25% of kids with disrupted sleep had failing math’s grades on the other hand 8% of the children without sleep (Hackethal, 2013).

SOLUTIONS
There are many solutions to improve the sleeping pattern such as people’s circadian rhythm is the way our sleeping pattern is as this has great influence when we sleep and the quantity and the quality of our sleep. There are various factors that involve circadian rhythm such as our naps, bedtime, and exercise, however, in order to improve the sleeping pattern these factors must be maintained (Michael et al, 2014). Aging is another factor that plays a role in sleep and sleep hygiene. Everyone’s sleep pattern changes as we grow older, therefore making sure the quality and quantity of our sleep is right can improve the sleeping pattern. Psychological stressors is also a major role in sleeping, many people don’t sleep properly because of deadlines, exams, marital conflict and job crises. Organizing a time plan for these factors can help improve the sleeping pattern (Michael et al, 2014). Everyone needs good quality sleep to progress and process to learn new information (Reuters, 2014). Solutions also include making a priority and deciding what they can do to get enough sleep to stay healthy, happy and smart. Naps can also help people pick up and make them work more efficiently.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, based on the research question that was conducted, sleep deprivation have a lot of effect on people. As sleeping is the main function of the body to progress healthier, it is found that not sleeping the required amount of sleep results to irritability, exhaustion, poor lack of concentration, and impaired judgment. The sleep disturbances involve work demands, social and family responsibilities, medical conditions, and sleep disorders.

WORD COUNT: 927 words

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Abc.net.au, 2014. Catalyst: Cheating Sleep - ABC TV Science, 24 August 2014, .

2. Anthony, L 2014, What is the healthiest amount of sleep? , Harvard Health Publications, 29 August 2014, .

3. Better Health Channel, 2014, Sleep deprivation - Better Health Channel, 27 August 2014, .
4. Cirelli, C 2014, Definition and consequences of sleep deprivation, 28 August 2014, .

5. Goel, N (2014), Sleep: Losing Sleep: the Causes and Effects of Sleep Deprivation - The Doctor, 26 August 2014 .
6. Hackethal, V 2013, Poor sleep tied to kids' lower academic performance, Belldirect, 21 of August 2014, .
7. Kingston et al, 2014. FACT SHEET. 29 August 2014, .

8. McClure, B 2010, Causes, Effects & Studies on Sleep Deprivation, 21st of August 2014, .
9. Reuters, P 2014, Poor sleep tied to kids' lower academic performance, 20 August 2014, .
10. Sleep Foundation Organization, 2014, School Start Time and Sleep, 21 August 2014, .

11. Micheal J, Brues, PhD, 2014, How to Sleep Better, 5 September 2014,