Dear Reader,

If increased demands in your life have forced you to cut back on your ZZZs, welcome to the club. A century ago, when people went to bed and awoke based on the sun's schedule, the average person could expect to get approximately nine hours of sleep a night. By 1975, nightly slumber was down to about seven-and-a-half hours, and today, one-third of Americans get less than six hours of nocturnal snooze-time. Electricity, television, and computers have created a world that's lit and lively 24/7, and many around the world are sacrificing siesta time to take part.

Chronic sleep deprivation (going for extended periods of time with less sleep than your body needs — which for some could be as much as ten hours a night) can cause a variety of physical and psychological problems. At its most basic level, loss of sleep can make people more irritable, less efficient and able to recall events, and more accident-prone. Research on the physical effects of chronic sleep deprivation suggest more serious and significant long-term complications, including:

Diabetes

Research from the University of Chicago Medical Center has shown that sleep deprivation interferes with the body's ability to regulate insulin production and sugar metabolism, potentially increasing the risk of diabetes.

Weakened immune system

People who don't get enough sleep have been found to have changes in their immune response and white blood cell production, which can lead to difficulty in fighting off infections.

Cognitive problems

It is believed that adequate amounts of sleep are essential for storing and maintaining long-term memories. People who are sleep deprived also score less well on cognitive tasks, such as judgment and reaction time. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that as many as 100,000 car accidents a year may be caused by sleep deprivation.

Obesity

Some scientists believe that sleep deprivation decreases the production of leptin, a hormone that makes people feel "full" after eating. Without enough leptin, people continue to crave carbs even after they've eaten — leading to overeating and possible obesity.

When you cut back on nightly napping, it's not just beauty sleep you're losing — sleep buffs both your body and brain.

Alice

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