Why Is Sleep So Important - 3274 Words

Why Is Sleep So Important? 1. Introduction Sleep is a biological fact of life that often does not receive the greatest amount of attention and priority. Understanding the causes of why some individuals, and even societies, choose not to have adequate amounts of sleep leads to inconsistent results. However, the consequences of not getting enough of sleep are worth noting. While some individuals choose to sacrifice the amount of sleep they have on a regular basis, others do not have that choice and suffer not only from a lack of sleep but also a reduction in the quality of sleep. Not having enough quality sleep leads to a reduction in the ability to regulate physical, mental, and emotional demands, as well as reductions in the performance†¦show more content†¦During N3 sleep, individuals have little response to external stimuli are likely in a state of deep sleep. While sleep is important for regulating metabolic and hormonal processes, sleep is also important for regulating appetite (Hung et al. 1). No t receiving enough sleep leads to what Hung and colleagues referred to as â€Å"chronic sleep debt,† in which the metabolic and hormonal processes are irregular, and appetite tends to increase (1). Chronic sleep debt has negative effects on glucose metabolism, resulting in sleep disorders with reduced sleep quality (3). A continued lack of sleep can lead to negative health consequences such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even death. Some individuals choose to lessen the quantity of sleep they receive on a regular basis (Nedeltcheva and Scheer 293). While this choice may work for some who feel motivated for multiple reasons, continuing to voluntarily reduce the quantity of sleep on a regular basis may lead to the onset of officially recognized diagnoses of insufficient sleep syndrome and sleep deprivation (293). In modern society, many people have no choice but to sacrifice both the quantity and quality of sleep because of environmental factors related to fa mily and work. Environmental factors such as noise, exposure to light, and lack of privacy in sleeping quarters may have a