We are in the middle of a sleep epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that one in three people do not get enough sleep. You may feel that a little sleep deprivation is not a big deal. You’d be wrong. A lack of sleep has tremendous consequences for our physical and psychological well-being. Let’s look at how much sleep we should be getting and the negative effects that are caused by a lack of rest.

How Much Sleep Do We Need?

Sleep requirements depend on the individual. While you may feel like you function pretty well on six hours per night, your partner may be a zombie if they do not get their eight hours. The key to determining how much sleep you need depends on two questions: Do you feel tired during the day and does a lack of sleep affect your productivity? If you answered yes to either one of those questions, you are probably sleep-deprived.

A lot of people do not pay attention to how much sleep they get and to their sleep habits in general. Maybe you had difficulty answering the two questions above. If you are unsure, it might be a good idea to keep a sleep diary. A sleep diary is something you fill out daily that asks about how long you slept and any other habits that might have affected your sleep (e.g., did you drink alcohol, are you taking medication?). Additionally, it is important to note certain sleep patterns such as if you wake up early or wake up in the middle of the night.

Although people need different amounts of sleep, experts recommend certain hours based on your age. As you can see, newborns and infants need the most sleep. The average adult needs seven to nine hours. Teenagers, who are famous for not getting enough sleep, need slightly more than adults. Senior citizens, who appear to survive on minimal sleep, actually require only slightly less than the average adult.

What Happens When We Are Sleep Deprived?

This is where it gets scary. When you realize what happens when you don’t get enough sleep you might decide to do something about it.

Physical Health Problems

Sleep Deprivation is related to increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. It kills your immune function and is linked with the development of obesity. It even increases the possibility of getting colorectal cancer. Enough Said.

Mental Health Problems

I’m going to give you a challenge. Take two nights in a row where you did not get enough sleep and record how you feel. I am going to wager that you feel pretty awful. Your mood is probably in the toilet and you are likely irritable and anxious. It is impossible to feel your best when you have not gotten enough sleep. Magnify that by multiple sleepless nights and you have a serious problem. People with insomnia are five to ten times as likely to be depressed. What is even worse is that insomnia and depression form a vicious cycle that repeats itself over and over. After a while, you don’t know which is causing which but you know it all sucks.

Accidents

What you might not realize is how many accidents are the result of sleep deprivation. Every day, there are thousands of minor accidents—such as running into your desk at work—that occur due to not getting enough rest. Additionally, over 1500 car accidents a year are due to lack of sleep. This is not surprising when you recognize that sleep deprivation seriously decreases your reaction time. Finally, did you know that major disasters like Chernobyl and The Exxon Valdez oil spill were related to sleep deprivation? In summary, a lot of people are getting hurt and killed due to a lack of sleep.

Cognitive Issues

You just don’t think as well when you are sleep deprived. Mental processes such as concentration, alertness, and problem-solving are all affected by a lack of sleep. As a result, you will be unable to process new information as efficiently and your productivity will suffer. Wait, there is more. During the night your brain consolidates the memories of the events of the day. If you aren’t sleeping, that does not happen and your long-term memory will be shot. When you add it all up, you are going to make a lot more errors. All of which means that the raise you asked for at work is not going to happen.

Weird Stuff

Certain people with sleep deprivation, especially when severe, experience peculiar symptoms, such as hallucinations, a lack of empathy, and episodes of delirium. In addition, it can negatively affect your sex drive and increase your risk of mortality. Even when you try and treat it with medication there may be some strange consequences. There are reports that people who use hypnotic medications, like Ambien and Lunesta, have found themselves naked in the street as a result.

As I mentioned in Steps To Improve Your Sleep, there are numerous actions we can take to improve our sleep. If you are one of the millions of people who are suffering through sleep deprivation, do yourself a favor and make sleep a priority. You’ll be happier, healthier, more productive, and be able to remember your kids’ names.