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Sleep deprivation is a term used to signify that a person cannot get sufficient or healthy sleep. When a person starts chasing sleep and cannot get enough of it, this affects every base of life. Sleep deprivation causes you to get irritated easily, makes you feel tired and since it affects both your physical and mental health badly, it is detrimental to your daily performance. If this deprivation is experienced for only a short time, such as 1-2 days, it is called acute sleep deprivation. However, in some cases, sleep deprivation can occur regularly and the name of it is chronic sleep deprivation leading to insomnia. This article will look at what causes sleep deprivation and more.
What causes sleep deprivation?
Sleep deprivation is caused by not having enough sleep, leading to health problems. Sleep is one of the most important components of our daily functions. When we get a good night’s sleep, our body starts healing and restoring itself in a way that renews our bodily functions as well as our minds. When we do not get sufficient sleep, this renewal cannot happen and we wake up more tired than ever. You might be chasing sleep because you are too stressed and put too much pressure on your body, you consume excessive amounts of caffeine or you have insomnia.
How does sleep deprivation affect us?
We learned about the basics, but what are the effects of sleep deprivation? Sleep deprivation causes our body to stay in a state of tiredness because our body goes through a process of renewal when we get enough healthy sleep. When we experience sleep deprivation, the renewal of our body cannot happen and this situation makes us feel tired both mentally and physically. It affects our daily functions and responsibilities. We cannot focus, get irritated easily, and have a hard time even doing the basic chores of our daily lives. Also, sleep deprivation is detrimental to our immune system. When we get a good night’s sleep, our immune system builds new protection walls, such as antibodies, to protect us from diseases. When sufficient sleep is there, the immune system cannot make progress and this situation makes us more vulnerable to diseases. For instance, it is critically important to have a healthy sleep schedule to be protected from Covid-19. When fighting against Covid-19, our immune system needs to be strong and it needs proper sleep to do that.
What should we do about sleep deprivation?
When you have trouble with sleep deprivation, there are many ways you can consider. You can meditate, take medications, or get help from a professional. There are relaxation techniques within meditation and these techniques can help you put your mind at ease so that you can get a good night’s sleep. Some medications help you fall asleep easily. If the medications available for you are not working, you must ask your doctor to prescribe a more effective medication. If your sleep problem is more severe, you can get therapy. Also, you can try some adjustments at home. Change the place you are sleeping in to see whether the spot is the problem or not. You can also change the lighting. You should not eat before bed. You should also avoid looking at your phone for a long time before going to bed. These simple solutions can help you overcome the situation if it is not severe. However, if it is more powerful, you must always ask for help.