Sleep Deprivation: The Importance Of Sleep

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How many hours of sleep should one routinely acquire? How does the amount of sleep really influence a person’s life? The majority of the population knows the obvious signs of sleep deprivation- fuzziness, irritation, sometimes even dizziness- but don’t know the true consequences. Sleep influences cognitive function and physical function, which will ultimately disturb others around.
Humans’ brains must have an adequate amount of sleep to be able to function properly and acquire new information. As one sleeps, his or her brain is busy sorting and ‘filing’ advanced experiences, skills, and memories to allow retrievement for the future (LaMotte). “A lack of sleep therefore impacts your ability to pay attention, learn new things, be creative, solve problems, and make decisions …show more content…

So, without sleep, how much does it really cost? Billions of people around the world don’t think twice about pushing their sleep hours further back. Minimal extent is acknowledged as to the importance of slumber. Matthew Walker, the instructor of psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Medical School at Harvard, linked lack of sleep to failed memory (Wasowicz). His tests showed sleeplessness can severely and irreversibly impede the brain’s ability to retain information (Wasowicz). Sleep deprivation over one week can result in mood swings, increased paranoia, and stress (LaMotte). With an increase in stress levels, the body pumps its primary stress hormone, cortisol, which causes higher insulin levels and an increase in cravings for sugary foods (LaMotte). Furthermore, certain peptides that regulate your appetite (ghrelin is the ‘hungry’ signal

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