Sleep Deprivation example essay topic

Man was placed on the earth with the instincts to survive in the world in which they live. One of these instincts was to rest everyday for a period of time while the sun was down. In today's busy lifestyle, the days just do not seem long enough to get everything done. Receiving the correct amount of sleep is important to being healthy and to live safely, yet many people do not know this and therefore cause themselves to become sleep deprived without knowing the severity of it.

The American society promotes a tired and chronically sleep deprived generation, yet it is an oppressed and overlooked problem which gives rise to negative consequences. One way in which society promotes sleeplessness is through the industrial revolution. The ever popular 24- hour day supermarkets, banks, restaurants, hotels, and airports, just to name a few, are hindering people's sleep patterns. People go to work at night and then have to come home, go to school or take care of the house or even go to a second job. Many other professions require rotating shifts such as doctors, nurses, policemen, and firemen. Between a work life, social life, and home life, it is almost impossible to achieve the correct amount of sleep needed as not to become sleep deprived.

Those ambitious individuals who develop home-based businesses also become part of the world of sleeplessness. Although this recently growing trend seems to be quite prosperous, it causes sleep deprived people because there are usually no set schedules involved. This becomes a problem in the workforce itself. When employees are sleep deprived, it affects their working abilities by causing them to work poorly. They could even become a hazard to themselves and others, especially if they are operating machinery or driving. Along with the lengthy and late hours, driving time to and from work is being increased due to America's growing cities.

With the growth of cities comes the growth of the number of vehicles on the road. Now, the working man or woman may take two hours to travel home instead of the normal one hour trip. They then have to take care of the kids, take care of the house, prepare supper, feed the dog, do laundry, and possibly "catch up on some work from the office". This leaves very little time for sleep by the end of their extra endeavors. Technology is another way in which America's society promotes sleep deprivation, specifically television, radio, and the Internet. Late night television does not consist of solely infomercials anymore, nor does the radio play the same songs over and over.

They both broadcast day and night so that people may enjoy their favorite shows, movies, or songs any time they choose. Many people trade hours of sleep pursuing leisure activities such as browsing the Internet as well. Sleep deprivation has many negative consequences that many people face which can interfere with their work or home life. A sense of fatigue can make a person grumpy, irritable, and unable to function properly. It also increases vulnerability to depression and accentuates other mood problems such as anxiety.

Sleep deprivation can also affect performance by reducing cognitive abilities- that is, the ability to think and use your brain. Combined with drowsiness, this can increase the risk of accidents because a person is less able to think fast during a dangerous situation. If the problem goes on for a very long time, there may be some risk that it can cause some health problems such as aggravating existing heart disease. With the kind of busy society Americans face today, sleep is often hard to come by. People lead demanding lives without even knowing that the lack of sleep is causing harm to their bodies.

If insomnia is let go for a long period of time, the effects can possibly lead to death. Therefore, people must learn to face and become aware of the problem to come up with solutions, such as giving up that one extra hour on the Internet or better managing their time. This is the only way sleep deprivation can be avoided.