5 Reasons For Avoiding Sleep Deprivation

1. You are more prone to accidents

The National Commission on Sleep Disorders found that sleepiness while driving causes more traffic fatalities than drunk driving.  Their estimates show that 100,000 traffic accidents and 1500 fatalities occur each year because of driver fatigue. The day after a switch to daylight savings time, when we lose an hour of sleep, traffic accidents rise by 7%!  Lack of sleep therefore can do much more than just make you crabby. Any activity  that requires a high degree of concentration that is attempted by someone who is lacking the proper amount of sleep becomes significantly riskier and will have a higher chance of ending in an accident.

2. Your mood and motivation is affected by lack of sleep

If your sleep deprived, you may end up being able to perform throughout your day but you may not be people's favorite person to be around. Missing the needed amount of sleep for just one night can make you more volatile, slightly depressed, and even sensitive to criticism.

3. Your immune function is affected by lack of sleep

You will be more vulnerable to illness if you are not getting the proper amount of sleep each night. Sleep plays a big role in regulating your immune system. Your body will be  weaker and you will be more apt to catch viruses. If your immune system is depleted, you will be open to things like bacteria, viruses, and toxicity invading your body and taking over.

4. Lack of sleep will cause you to age quicker

Scientists that study longevity know that sleep is one of the biggest components of living longer. A study done by the American Cancer Society concluded that:

- The people at the greatest risk for dying early were those that slept the fewest hours.

- The people with the highest death rate were those that averaged 4 hours of sleep or less a night.

- The people who had the highest longevity were those that averaged 8 hours of sleep a night.

5. The production of human growth hormone in your body can be affected by lack of sleep

Human Growth Hormone (HGH), secreted by the pituitary gland of the brain, is an endocrine hormone that declines in production as we age. HGH is secreted in little pulses while we are in a deep sleep and also after we exercise.  Things like cardiovascular disease, increased body fat, osteoporosis, gray hair, wrinkles, lack of energy, reduced sexual function, and other symptoms are related to the decline of HGH. You can prevent or even reverse these conditions by increasing deep sleep.

Many people believe that when we go to sleep a night that our body is in an inactive state. This could not be more wrong. Many biological processes of the body are performing and doing things while we sleep like revitalizing our body, repairing tissue and organs, and boosting our memory storage. Your brain is actually very alert and using more sugar and oxygen than when you are awake.  Your muscles in your body are relaxed but your brain is still highly active, even learning new things as you sleep but the sensory perception it uses during the day is essentially shut off while you sleep.

Getting enough sleep is important. Your body will love you for it and so will your friends. Susan has been writing articles online for nearly a year now. Not only does this author specialize in health, travel, and dogs, you can also check out her latest website reviewing the Coleman air mattress pump models like the Coleman inflate all quick pump

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