The Consequences of Sleep Deprivation Essay Example

Envision getting invited to hang out with friends on a late Friday night, yet also having to wake up early Saturday morning to drive out of town for an event. Some may decline the invitation because they would like to get well rested before leaving Saturday morning. However, others may accept the invitation of staying out late with friends, disregarding the fact that the next morning they will be putting their health and life, and others’ lives, in danger. Many people may want to “live their life to the fullest” and sleep few hours each night. The brutal truth is those same people who consistently choose late nights over quality sleep will not have a long-lasting, enjoyable life. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 32.5 percent of adults in the United States reported obtaining less than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night (Suni). Sleeping less and staying up late has become increasingly common, especially for teenagers, but there is much harm that comes along with lack of sleep. Three disastrous effects of sleep deprivation include hampered daily functions and sports performance, increased chances of developing physical and mental illnesses, and a shorter lifespan. 

To begin, lack of sleep negatively affects one’s cognitive and sports performance. Regularly obtaining quality amounts of sleep helps remember and retain information previously learned, boosts mood and alertness, and provides mental clarity. Without enough quality sleep, one may feel groggy and unfocused during daily practices, such as doing schoolwork or completing projects for a job. Research has shown that feeling fatigued diminishes one’s daily functions and ability almost as worse than being intoxicated does (“Consequences of Sleep Deprivation” 11). Alongside affecting cognitive performance, insufficient sleep negatively impacts the endurance, strength, and speed of teenagers. “According to a 2019 study from the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, a lack of sleep is linked to an increased risk of injury in teen athletes” (“Sleep and Sleep Deprivation”). Professional athletes, including Lebron James, acknowledge and have shared how sleep is essential when recovering from practices and games. 

Additionally, sleep deprivation has been linked to serious physical and mental illnesses, such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, dementia, anxiety, depression, cancer, and more. The list of medical conditions is inconceivable and must be discerned. Two alarming facts to take into consideration are “Researchers found a lack of sleep lead to higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure, and higher body fat” (“Sleep and Sleep Deprivation”), and “women who averaged five hours of sleep a night were 39% more likely to develop heart disease than women who slept eight hours” (“Consequences of Sleep Deprivation” 11). As one can see, the life-pumping organ that is essential to live is one of the main organs attacked by deficient sleep. Now, the illnesses described previously can result in death. However, there are two main instances where sleep can kill someone outright: insomnia and drowsy driving.

First, insomnia is a sleep disorder where a person finds it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or simply cannot sleep at all. “After twelve to eighteen months of no sleep, the patient will die” (Walker 7). Second, a lack of sleep leads to drowsy driving, which can then lead to crashes and potentially death. It should be noted that “one person dies in a traffic accident every hour in the United States due to a fatigue-related error” (Walker 7). Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California – Berkeley, claims “the shorter your sleep, the shorter your lifespan.” To back up this assertion, I would like to share that “a study of almost a million people over age 30 found that men who reported usually sleeping less than four hours a day were nearly three times as likely to die within six years as men who said they averaged seven or eight hours of sleep” (“Consequences of Sleep Deprivation” 11). If one wants to live an enduring, fulfilling life, they must be prioritizing persistent sleep – quantity and quality. 

As a result, hindered daily functions and sports performance, increased chances of developing physical and mental illnesses, and a shorter lifespan are three major consequences that may occur due to being sleep deprived. Lack of sleep makes it challenging to think clearly, recall information, and execute at one’s best ability for daily work or sports performance. Serious medical conditions may develop from consistent lack of sleep and could lead to a shortened life. It is vital to maintain good sleep every night, so we do not endanger ourselves or our peers. Multiple tips one can practice if they have trouble falling asleep is to cut off caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening, reduce exercise right before bed, establish a sleep-wake schedule, and limit screen time about thirty minutes or an hour prior to falling asleep. If you have had constant trouble with sleeping, I recommend reaching out for help as lack of sleep is detrimental to one’s health and life. 

Work Cited

“CDC - Data and Statistics - Sleep and Sleep Disorders.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 May 2017, https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html. 

“Consequences of sleep deprivation.” Improving Sleep: A Guide to A Good Night’s Rest,

Harvard Health Publications, 2008, p. 11. Harvard Special Health Report. Gale Health and Wellness, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A177635576/HWRC?u=iowaec&sid=bookmark

HWRC&xid=f2d02aaa. Accessed 23 Nov. 2021.

“Sleep and Sleep Deprivation.” Teen Health and Wellness, Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., September 2021, teenhealthandwellness.com/article/504/sleep-and-sleep-deprivation. Accessed 19 Nov. 2021. 

Suni, Eric. “Sleep Statistics - Facts and Data about Sleep 2021.” Sleep Foundation, 12 Nov. 2021, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics. 

Walker, Matthew P. “Chapter 1: To Sleep...” Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, Scribner, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, NY, 2018, pp. 5–5.