Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation and related problems have become as American as coffee shops and 24-hour lifestyles. In the last 100 years, there has been about a 20% decline in total daily sleep time. Between longer workdays and responsibilities at home, there are more demands and less and less time for people to relax and decompress from their day. Additional stimulation in the form of the Internet and TV can also contribute to the time we stay awake and stimulation that keeps us from putting our heads on the pillow.

Sleep deprivation can result in impairment in cognitive function, such as attention, concentration and memory. Lack of sleep can cause mood swings including feeling low or being irritable. And not getting the sleep you need can affect your ability to stay awake during the day or make you feel fatigued.

Disruptions to sleep that cause sleep deprivation can also be an indicator of stress, anxiety or even a medical condition. Sometimes, just finding the right position in bed can improve sleep quality and even help with other health conditions. For example, we commonly suggest to people who suffer with gastroesophageal reflux disease (otherwise known as GERD), in which people experience heartburn and regurgitation at night, that they raise the head of their bed three to four inches, so that they're sleeping on an incline.

Lifestyle can also have a huge impact on sleep and sleep quality. For example, irregular bedtimes and wake times might give rise to sleep problems that contribute to sleep deprivation. Try to avoid behaviors that are not conducive to sleep just before bed, like paying bills, talking on the phone or engaging in stressful activities. Things like that before going to bed are not going to be helpful when the lights go out and you expect to fall asleep.