Sleep Deprivation A Huge Problem

Hannah Swanson
Chapter 11 Exercise 4
October 7, 2010

“Going without enough sleep is as much of a public and personal safety hazard as going to work drunk.” Diana Gant, a professor in the Psychology Department at Anoka Ramsey Community College, has been studying sleep for over 17 years and has found the above statement to be true.

Gant says that the average person gets about seven hours of sleep a night, while the recommended amount for most people is nine to ten hours. She says that, just like people exercise because it’s healthy, people need adequate sleep because it’s healthy.

Sleep deprivation can cause many problems, and Gant gives us these examples: your clothes might feel heavy, you may become very drowsy after lunch, you can become depressed, and you could even fall asleep at the wheel.

As a professor, Gant wants to continue learning and be able to share some of her observations. This is why she decided to study traffic accidents the day after people lose an hour to daylights saving’s time in the spring and also the day after people gain an hour in the fall.

Gant found that there was an 8 percent increase in accidents the day after the time change in the spring. When people gain an hour of sleep, she found that there was a decrease in the number of accidents reported.

“…when people get up just an hour early it’s the equivalent of a national jet leg. The effect can last a week,” says Gant of the time changes.

If you’re wondering how you can solve your sleep deprivation problem Gant says almost everyone in her field agrees on what you can do. The first step is to find a place to sleep that is very dark and quiet. To relax yourself, watch TV or read a book for about an hour before you go to bed. The temperature in your room should be cool, about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

For a good night’s sleep she recommends not drinking alcohol or caffeine and avoiding food, especially foods with a lot of sugar. These can disturb your sleep because your brain becomes much more alert. Most importantly, Gant says to have a comfortable bed with clean and fresh bed linens.