Chronic Sleep Deprivation Symptoms

Spotting chronic sleep deprivation symptoms is very essential to ensure good health. Read more on sleep deprivation: causes, symptoms and treatment.

The daily requirement of sleep for humans is 7 - 9 hours. It can vary according to the age and occupation of the person. But sometimes, due to certain reasons, a person may not get sufficient amount of restorative sleep. He is then said to be deprived of sleep. What exactly is sleep deprivation? Let us have a look.

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation, or chronic insomnia, is the lack of adequate amount of sleep. It can be involuntary as a form of a disorder in certain people. On the other hand, it is also a form of psychological torture when a person is forcibly deprived of sleep. Sleep deprivation can be chronic as well as acute. Frequent sleep deprivation can become chronic and has long term health hazards. Let us have a look at the causes of chronic sleep deprivation.

Causes of Chronic Sleep Deprivation

The commonest cause of sleep deprivation is stress caused due to different reasons like job related, family related or financial responsibilities. Similarly anxiety or excessive worry can also cause sleep deprivation. Any psychological disorder or undiagnosed medical condition can lead to either long hours of sleep or very little sleep in people. The other causes of chronic sleep deprivation are:

Nightmares

Menopause

Insecurity (mostly in children and teens)

Mania

Chronic Sleep Deprivation Symptoms

Due to the several causes, very few people get adequate amount of sleep everyday. Most of the times, people are not aware that they are deprived of sleep. They experience typical symptoms, but fail to relate them to sleep deprivation. It is very essential for people to identify chronic sleep deprivation symptoms as soon as possible. The following are physical sleep deprivation symptoms.

Headache

Blurred vision

Feeling sleepy during daytime

Bodyache

Dizziness

Lack of energy

Drowsiness

Constant yawning

At the same time, there are also behavioral symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation. They include:

Irritability

Hallucinations

Inability to concentrate

Intolerance

Delusions

Paranoia

Chronic Sleep Deprivation Symptoms in Children and Teens

Due to changing sleeping patterns or improper lifestyle, numerous teenagers face sleep deprivation. Although they may not be aware, but it may cause serious long term health hazards. Parent should look out for the following chronic sleep deprivation symptoms in children and teens.

Poor scholastic performance

Lack of interest in any activity

Loss of appetite

Irritability

Unable to concentrate and memorize

Effects of Chronic Sleep Deprivation

As mentioned above, sleep deprivation has several negative effects on our body. Frequent sleep deprivation has a direct ill effect on the human brain and the digestive system. It can impair a person's problem solving, thinking and understanding ability. A sleep deprived person is also on a high risk of getting diseases like severe depression, Alzheimer's disease or even schizophrenia. Similarly, there are high chances of suffering from digestive and gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and hypertension. Sleep deprivation can affect the overall personality and performance of a person and it can directly affect his work, relations, and sex life. Most of the times, sleep deprived people are found to get addicted to drugs that cause the feeling of excitement in them. They also start relying on drugs for energy and alertness. Read more on sleep deprivation effects.

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Treatment for Chronic Sleep Deprivation

In order to avoid all the aforementioned dangers of sleep deprivation, one should first identify sleep deprivation symptoms and try to overcome it. As stress is the main culprit for causing sleep deprivation, one should try to reduce stress by using several stress management and relaxation techniques. Change in lifestyle or environment also helps in treating sleep deprivation. On the other hand, psychological disorders or insomnia can be treated with the help of medications. If sleep deprivation persists for more than a few days, you should consult a doctor who will diagnose the cause and treat it.

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One should remember that understanding and improving chronic sleep deprivation symptoms is very essential for good health. The following quote says it all: "A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book" — Irish Proverb