Effects of Sleep Loss

Sleep is an essential part of our daily lives and well-being. Lost sleep robs us of the opportunity to restore ourselves physically, emotionally, and even cognitively. Lost sleep and the resulting daytime sleepiness affect our mood, behavior and performance. In effect, we are how we sleep…. how we sleep at night affects who we are, what we do and how we do it during the day, although we are not always aware of many signs and symptoms as well as the costs and consequences caused by sleep disruptions. A night of seven to nine hours of restful, uninterrupted sleep becomes particularly important during times of high stress and anxiety.

"Not getting enough sleep impairs our work performance, increases the risk for injuries and makes it more difficult to get along with others," says Mark Rosekind, PhD, an expert on fatigue and performance issues. "Without sufficient sleep it is more difficult to concentrate, make careful decisions and follow instructions, we are more likely to make mistakes or errors, and are more prone to being impatient and lethargic. Our attention, memory and reaction time are all affected. But while we may recognize these symptoms, we do not always associate them as being symptoms of sleep loss," he adds. For more information about getting restful sleep click on the "Fast2Sleep" link on this page.

Until next time,
JT