Topic > Sleep Matters: The Human Condition in the Midst of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is an essential activity that individuals need on a daily basis. Through sleep people can physically rest and are able to recover body cells lost and damaged during the day. Sleep not only rejuvenates the body, but has also been proposed to conserve energy, detoxify the brain, and control thermoregulation within the brain (Maquet 2001). Since sleep is vital to the human body, scientists recommend around eight hours of sleep at night to promote efficient performance and thinking. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being. However, in this fast-paced society, only a few people manage to get as much sleep as their body requires. Furthermore, the lack of an adequate amount of sleep leads to complications for the human body. Decreased alertness and cognitive performance, reduced reaction time, working memory and logical reasoning are just some of the effects on an individual who has insufficient sleep. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Lack of sufficient sleep will then turn into sleep deprivation. This affects most people, from teenagers to adults. Periods of sleep deprivation occur when meeting deadlines or performing exercises at night, important tasks often performed by students and workers. In a way, people underestimate sleep and its importance. Therefore leading people not to worry about correct night sleep, preventing performance at maximum efficiency. However, an individual's response to insufficient sleep may vary depending on whether it is partial, short-term or long-term deprivation. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to a negative impact on a range of body parameters such as emotions, behavior, cognition and physiology. During ideal sleep, the body's vital signs fluctuate throughout the night. Heart rate is a notable paradigm as it follows the circadian rhythm. Besides that, heart rate is also affected by sleep. During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the body reaches the deepest sleep possible, during which most dreams also occur. When a person is in REM sleep, body temperature is at its lowest. However, if you experience sleep deprivation and never reach REM sleep, your body's core temperature is likely to be affected. Additionally, during the typical day-night sleep cycle, the body's blood pressure and heart rate, as well as other bodily functions such as breathing, slow down while the person sleeps and steadily increase when the person wakes up. Sleep deprivation can also be expected to affect these vital signs. Ultimately, when an individual regularly suffers from sleep loss, it can have a negative impact on their health.