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Do you know the signs of sleep deprivation?

Muddled thinking, poor reflexes (don’t get behind the wheel!), memory problems—and that’s the short list.

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Are you sleep deprived? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in three Americans is. “Sleep deprivation is a broad term to describe someone not getting an adequate amount of sleep,” explains Brian Mieczkowski, DO, a pulmonary and sleep medicine physician at the Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. “The amountShow More

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Reasons for sleep deprivation

So, what’s keeping us up? For starters, those with a sleep deficiency don’t appreciate how much sleep they really need. According to Mieczkowski, people tend to skip sleep because of work and family commitments, distractions (getting caught up on social media can quickly eat into your sleep time), Show More

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Cognitive difficulties

“We know from many studies that in people with sleep deprivation, reaction time dramatically decreases,” Mieczkowski explains. “Our ability to be aware of our surroundings also decreases.” These impairments can, for example, affect our ability to drive safely. Our executive functioning also slowsShow More

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Weakened immune system

Sleep deprivation can also affect your immune system. Some research suggests that your flu shot may not be as effective because your body isn’t able to build up as strong as an immune response.

You may also be susceptible to catching colds. In one study lasting 14 days, 153 healthy men and womenShow More

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Out-of-sync biological clock

Our circadian rhythm (the body’s 24-hour biological clock), which is affected by light and dark, also regulates sleep. Disruptions in the circadian rhythm can make it more difficult to pay attention.

Napping won't help if you find yourself nodding off. "You can’t recoup lost sleep during the dayShow More

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Disrupted sleep patterns

According to Mieczkowski, our bodies attempt to capture sleep regardless of whether we cooperate. For example, the brain tries to protect certain types of sleep—in particular the deeper, restorative stages. You may know this as REM or dreaming sleep. “This type of sleep helps with memoryShow More

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Preventing sleep deprivation

Appreciate the importance of sleep and keep a regular schedule. In general, the body only accommodates to shifts in bedtimes of about half an hour. “The most important time of the day for your sleep/wake cycle is your wake-up time,” Mieczkowski says. “Keeping a consistent wake time during the weekShow More

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When should you see a sleep specialist?

Mieczkowski advises that if you have significant concerns about your sleep that have lasted a month or more, or struggle to stay awake and depend on coffee just to make it through the day, talk to your primary care doctor or a sleep specialist.

And if someone you sleep with tells you that you snoreShow More

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