Among the seemingly endless health-related issues regarding college students, as well as the general population, is undoubtedly each individual's pattern of sleep and sometimes lack thereof. Whether sleep is lost over late-night studying, homework, personal issues and etcetera, sleep is not held nearly in as high a regard as it should be. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the Harvard Medical School found that the number of people who only sleep for six or fewer hours has grown in recent years. The study also found that generally, 75% of the general population reported having difficulty sleeping.
In addition to the obvious lack of cognitive functioning and overal low energy levels that can be attributed to not getting enough sleep at night, there are also various other problems that may arise that most people do not take into consideration. For example, lack of sleep has the potential to have a negative influence on both metabolism and weight. This is true considering that an extreme lack of sleep affects not only hormone levels that affect appetite, but also affects the way the body stores and processes carbohydrates. Another of the wide varieties of complications that may be blamed by sleep deprivation is the weakening of the immune system, thus making individuals more susceptible to developing ailments.
Though there are many issues related to sleep deprivation, the bottom line is that sleep is an essential part of life in which the body rests and recovers from the wear and tear of everyday life, and should be treated with the utmost importance.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/importance_of_sleep_and_health.htm
In addition to the obvious lack of cognitive functioning and overal low energy levels that can be attributed to not getting enough sleep at night, there are also various other problems that may arise that most people do not take into consideration. For example, lack of sleep has the potential to have a negative influence on both metabolism and weight. This is true considering that an extreme lack of sleep affects not only hormone levels that affect appetite, but also affects the way the body stores and processes carbohydrates. Another of the wide varieties of complications that may be blamed by sleep deprivation is the weakening of the immune system, thus making individuals more susceptible to developing ailments.
Though there are many issues related to sleep deprivation, the bottom line is that sleep is an essential part of life in which the body rests and recovers from the wear and tear of everyday life, and should be treated with the utmost importance.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/importance_of_sleep_and_health.htm
