Sleep Problems Effect About 70 Million Americans example essay topic

Sleep " The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to, then forcing oneself to stay awake for days on end must surely come a close second". - F Scott Fitzgerald We spend one third of our lives doing it, and yet, some of us never seem to be able to get enough. People all over the world don't receive enough sleep whether it's from a medical condition like narcolepsy, or simply not having enough time in a day. The effects of getting a good night's rest are essential and signs of sleep deprivation are not as hard to spot as one may think. Sleep can be compared to quicksand, ignore it and you " ll find yourself trapped. It will take over you " re body and if you try to fight it, the more it wins.

The effects of not receiving enough sleep are not uncommon. Sleep deprivation has been used throughout history and is common as a form of torture in many POW camps (Victims of Sleep Depravation). Countries, including the United States have used this method to extract information from prisoners. It leaves no physical markings but its psychological effects can be very harmful. Victims will literally go crazy. Those who have gone through it say that no sleep is even worse than starvation.

The number of people who suffer from a lack of sleep is growing. This is largely contributed to the increased popularity of late night TV and use of the internet. How many of us can honestly say that we turned the television off in the middle of our favorite show so that we may go to bed at a reasonable hour? While driving a lack of sleep can be just as harmful, if not more, than driving while drunk.

"We had three of our grandchildren in the back seat. They were singing and the radio was blasting and he went off the road. He said he was all right. I was going to drive, but he said I'm fine, I'm fine. The next day I called the doctor". (Sleep Apnea) Almost half of Americans drive while drowsy.

One out of every five drivers actually had to pull over and take a nap. Compared to alcohol, which only slows you " re reflexes, driving while drowsy makes the driver completely unaware of his or her surroundings. This can be extremely dangerous for motorists especially truckers, who more often than not, drive late into the night. (Drowsiness on motorists) Adults are not the only ones effected by a lack of sleep. A one-year-old baby will sleep 16 out of the 24 hours in a day (Jeffrey and Finkel 687).

While adults should average 8 hours a night, it is recommended that children, from toddlers to teens, should receive a minimum of 9 hours a night. It is estimated that only 15 percent actually get these amounts (Kids Suffer from Sleep Deprivation). This is particularly important for students who wish to do well in school. Dr. Carl Hunt, the director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, is spearheading a sleep campaign.

Her philosophy is, "Sleep well, do well". This is something that shouldn't be taken to lightly. Sleep problems effect about 70 million Americans of all ages. Teens often have problems with daytime sleepiness. The old idea of early to bed, early to rise isn't necessarily the best answer. Society is simply asking to much of teens (Sleep experts to teens).

A combination of school, work, study and leisure, leaves very little time left for sleep. Being deprived of sleep definitely has an effect on how well students do in school and may be putting their health at risk. College students who stay up all night to study for a test or write a big paper that's due often have no choice because of the pressures to do well and succeed, but at what price do they pay? Our bodies are like batteries. If we don't get sleep they can't be charged and we " ll feel the effects. A toy with dead batteries isn't nearly as fun as when fresh ones are used.

Getting sleep everyday is important. The longest someone has gone straight without sleep has been 11 days by Randy Gardner in 1964 who was a sleep test patient. During this period he witnessed hallucinations in which he started talking to a street sign. There were also delusions where he became a pro football player. Regardless there are no signs of long-term physical or mental damage from someone staying awake for this amount of time. After sleeping for two straight days Mr. Gardner came out of the test fine (Night Fever).

If kept longer in a state of constant wakefulness a person could die from the stress it causes. You " re brain is really the only organ that is effected by a lack of sleep, specifically the cerebral cortex, which is really the part of the brain that makes us human. Without it we would act like dormant robots. The very qualities that make us human would be gone.

Studies have confirmed that sleep is essential for creativity. Even when we are asleep our brains keep functioning and working on problems that give us trouble during the day. After adequate sleep work becomes easier and problems that may have given us trouble are now doable. Problem solving skills, creativity, and common sense are directly related with the amount of sleep we get. (Sleep Essential for Creativity) There are numerous diesel related with sleep or lack there of. One of the most common is insomnia or the inability to fall asleep.

This effects just about everyone at some point in their lives and usually targets the elderly. Waking up to early in the morning, having difficulty getting back to sleep and fatigue are all signs of insomnia. What really separates someone who just receives to little sleep and someone with insomnia is the inability to perform daily tasks. When you are too drowsy to accomplish anything during the day this could be an insomnia problem.

Treatment includes setting up a sleep schedule and certain diets. (Insomnia) Another disease, which is the opposite of insomnia and effects about 0.03% of the population, is narcolepsy. The need for sleep, at all times of the day, regardless of how much sleep one gets at night, is what narcolepsy patients go through. Sometimes this urge to get to sleep is so strong that one may fall asleep at random times and pass out, also known as rag doll syndrome. Unlike Insomnia this disease is strongest during the teen years. It is also hereditary, an unfair aspect of any disease.

There is also no cure, although with therapy, symptoms can be less sever. (Narcolepsy Information) One more sleep related disease, which is probably the most common among Americans, is sleep apnea. This is a sleeping disorder where one actually stops breathing during sleep. It's most commonly herd, not by the patient, but friends or family. Anyone who snores has a mild case of sleep apnea (Champa). Many of those who have it are usually unaware, but some other symptoms can include, headaches, sleepiness and rapid weight gain.

Certain sleeping patterns, positions, and even nasal strips can help. (Sleep Apnea) Although insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea, for the most part are not deadly, they can seriously effect your social and work life. If any symptoms are discovered the best course of action is to consult a physician. There are two different types of drugs that either stimulate or damper one's sleep state. Amphetamines are the most common way to keep the body going even when sleep is not available. These can also be referred to as pep pills, speed, uppers, beauties, capitols, bumble bees, and footballs.

First synthesized in Germany in the late 1800's these stimulates can significantly reduce the need for sleep. Even used in World War II for military purposes it was found that severe addition and a variety of side effects can take place. Amphetamines effect the body similar to the way adrenaline heightens the body's alertness. Addicts find new ways to ingest the drug. Snorting, swallowing and injections are common. This usually gives the user a rush and cause severe damage to the nervous system.

Heart rate increases and many other organs are pushed into a state of overdrive. Other symptoms include, a decreased appetite, decreased need for liquids, increased sense of alertness, increases energy and in some cases aggression and schizophrenia. Mostly used by college students and truck drivers this drug let's kids cram for tests or lets truckers drive all night. Like with all drugs the more one takes the more is needed to sustain the same level of potency. If enough is taken the drug can actually keep some awake for days on end. The consequence for this recklessness is a long rebound of sleepiness.

A normal sleep schedule won't return for several weeks. The drug greatly effects the brain and therefore alters thinking. Paranoia and violence is very common. Extreme cases of drug overdose can cause death. Fines of a 1,000 dollars and up to 10 years imprisonment may be possible for those who have illegal types of the drug (Amphetamines). There is a legal form of this drug, and one that we use every day, caffeine.

Caffeine can be considered the world's most popular drug. Not commonly thought of as a drug it is ingested by 85 percent of Americans everyday. Coffee, tea and cola, the world's three most popular drinks, all contain large doses of caffeine along with Chocolate and some medicines too. Caffeine actually has many of the same side effects as other amphetamines do. Although this stimulate isn't likely to kill it can still be very addictive.

Most drink or eat some sort of caffeine when sleepy. This quick upper actually blocks out the effect of adenosine, a chemical in our brain that induces sleep. Many people depend on this drug, but to truly feel alert it's necessary to, cut back on coffee and get more sleep. (Got Caffeine) If staying awake is the problem, then a depressant might be used. Referred to as downers, sedatives, hypnotics, minor tranquilizers, anxiolytics, and anti-anxiety medications these drugs calm the users nerves and puts them to sleep, or at the least make them drowsy.

Most people use these drugs for the sole purpose of falling asleep when they are naturally are not able to. This can be common for insomnia patients. Over the counter drugs such as night quill or benadryl can be considered a depressant and even abused. Alcohol is another depressant that is very common, not necessary because it makes you fall asleep, but for it's natural relaxing abilities.

This intoxicating drug slows the brain's reaction time, relaxes muscles and causes drowsiness. Benzodiazepine and Flunitrazepam is sometimes used by teens and adults at night clubs, bars and raves. These drugs, also referred to as "date-rape" drugs and can make the victim pass out. They often have no memory and are vulnerable to any sort of attack. Even if you say that you never take any depressants there are still many that are unknown and ingested. If you ever ate a Thanksgiving Day turkey, a drug called triptaphane is present and educes sleepiness shortly after eating.

This is one of the mildest forms of a depressant and in no way is life threatening. If falling asleep is a real problem, drugs should not be the answer. When used every night they can make the user dependent and even harder to get unhooked. Withdrawal is often worse than the drug itself. Seizures and delirium can occur with long term addicts. (Depressants) There are several ways to actually receive a good night's sleep.

Some methods are bizarre and don't actually work, but studies have shown many proven methods to educe sleep. Counting sheep actually works. This activity keeps the mind occupied and simply can bore a person to sleep. Drinks such as warm milk actually help. All mammals produce Melatonin, a chemical that can relaxes the body.

Excess amounts of this depressant actually get transferred into the milk. This therefore becomes a very natural way to induce sleep. Peppermint, valerian, certain teas made from hops are all drinks that relax the nerves and help people fall asleep faster and for a longer period of time (Kunz and Finkel 30). Drinking to close to bedtime might cause some the need to use the facilities during the night, making it hard to sleep. Avoiding naps during the day, and a constant sleep schedule are also normal ways to get a good nights rest. There are other more exotic ways that help too.

Whit noise, that annoying sound that occurs when the TV is on a wrong station, actually does help (Don't Go to Bed Yet). Any type of relaxing music can allow for a more peaceful sleep. Gazing into a candle, or flame gazing, is a technique that calms the nerves. Increasing the heat in a room can also help. Combining these two by sitting next to a fireplace is an excellent way to dose off. Wearing warm socks has been proven to help some.

Socks or warm water bottles heat many of the blood vessels in parts of the feet or hands and warm the whole circulatory system (Warm Socks). The most common reason why Americans don't receive enough sleep is from stress. Taking care of problems before bedtime to reduce stress can greatly help people get some sleep. This is why an activity like reading distracts the mind, allowing for sleep. (Reducing Stress) Although the amount of sleep varies from person to person, everyone needs an adequate amount of sleep every night so that they may feel fit and stay healthy throughout the day. From the youngest of children to the elderly, getting enough sleep is a necessity regardless that the majority of the public is sleep deprived.

That is why it is recommended, encouraged, even demanded that people everywhere get their 's.

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