Sleep is a very important part of human health. Many people ignore this aspect of human life while putting a lot of emphasis on balanced diets and sanitation. However, sleep is just as basic as the aforementioned aspects of healthy living. Lack of sleep may lead to various health disorders depending on the cause of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is a condition where by an individual fails to get sleep over a period of days. The individual does not feel the need to sleep at all, which is abnormal in any individual.
The lack of sleep may be induced by a different cause or the individual may be forgoing sleep intentionally. The most detrimental effect of sleep deprivation is the failure of the immune system. A study at the University of Carnegie Mellon showed that people who got less than seven hours of sleep each night were prone to have an impaired immune system. Their bodies were less resistant to retracting colds and flu because their immune systems could not fight the disease causing viruses. Studies done earlier showed that adequate sleep leads to low risk of contracting heart diseases, though this study has no direct evidence.
One cause of sleep deprivation, which is also the most common, is self induced sleeplessness. An individual may be engaged in activities so much that they spend most of the time working hence; lack of sleep. For example, I am an international student living in U.S.A. I study and at the same time am employed to make ends meet financially and academically. I work for 40 hours in a week and at the same time study on full time basis. I spend a lot of my time studying, attending lectures, doing assignments and working. This results on an average of 16-20 hours of working. This leaves at most 8 hours for me, and I also have to cater for personal duties like cooking and cleaning, to get sleep. This is very inadequate time for me to rest. I have to take caffeine drinks like black coffee to stay awake as I try to accomplish these tasks. Since I work on a night shift job, it is risky because I am likely to contract colds and flu.
As a result of work and study on full time basis, I have a very tight schedule within which I operate. I spend most of the time working and studying, this hectic life leaves me with very little time to get rest and sleep. Therefore, I fall sick very often which affects the level of my academic and work performance. I have realized that I easily contract viral illnesses, especially colds and flu. The ease with which I often fall sick can be attributed to lack of sleep.
Sleep deprivation has solutions depending on its cause. In my case, and other people who work late into their resting hours, and spare little or no time to sleep, I can try different systems of working. For example, I could quit the job, which seems very demanding, and concentrate on my studies. I can then look for another job which will demand less time. Working and studying for a total maximum of 14 hours will leave me with at least 8 or 7 hours to sleep. That is the minimum amount of sleep per day that is recommended scientifically.
I could also decide to have my studies on part time basis then handle the job on full time. I can then work as usual then attend evening and weekend classes. This will help in relieving the burden I have. Working for 8 hours per day, I will attend evening classes for three hours. That adds up to 11 hours. I will then have 13 hours to do my house chores and get adequate rest.
Another way to solve my sleep deprivation problem could be to prioritize my duties. In this case, I can retain both my current job and my full time studies. I would then have to convince my boss at work to allow me to work at certain hours. I would attend my lectures as usual because they are usually between 8a.m and 4p.m. I would streamline my work and study schedule so that I finish both tasks by 10p.m. This will leave me with ample time to sleep.
In conclusion therefore, my vulnerability to contracting illnesses can be attributed to sleep deprivation. The hectic schedules that I keep up with lead to me overworking my body and depriving it of sleep. I will have to change my schedule and try new ways of working and studying on full time basis at the same time without interfering with my sleeping hours. This will help my body to recuperate and at the same time my immune system will improve hence; I will not be prone to illnesses like I am now. By embracing the available solutions to sleep deprivation, I could have prolonged good health, which will lead to efficiency and productivity both in my academics and at work.
