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In some severe cases, sleep deprivation can cause memory loss, lowered reaction time and even death, according to www.webmd.com.
In a recent survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 40 percent of adults said their daily activities are affected by a lack of sleep.
Eight hours of sleep a night is recommended for adults, but Americans are learning to get by on less and less sleep.
“People aren’t making sleep a priority. They try to cram too much in their days. They’re getting up earlier and doing more before going to work or staying up later,” Kierstan Boyd said to WebMD.
Sleeping to stay healthy isn’t just a matter of sleeping longer, it involves getting quality sleep, according to www.webmd.com.
“More than 100 million people in the United States don’t get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis. ... Sleeping well is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” according to www.mayoclinic .com.
There are at least 100,000 car crashes every year caused by sleep deprivation, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,550 of those are fatal.
More than just saving lives, better sleep can result in increased awareness and more productive days at work and school, according to WebMD.
But how do students know if they need better or more sleep? WebMD offers five signs:
• It takes longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep.
• Waking up in the night and not being able to fall back asleep.
• Waking up feeling groggy.
• Trouble staying awake in less-than-exciting parts of the day.
• Lack of memory.
Some things students can do to get more or better sleep include making sure their bed is comfortable, making a consistent schedule, exercising and adjusting eating habits, according to www.webmd.com.
Other tips for better sleep include keeping the sleeping environment quiet, sleep only at night, not relying on sleeping pills, taking a bath before going to bed and keeping the sleeping space slightly cool.
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