Sleep Deprivation: Does It Matter?

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By Sarah M. Richey, M.D., Lead Physician for Sleep Medicine, Northern Virginia Region, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group

For hundreds of years humans have understood that sleep is necessary for survival, and more and more studies are now showing that adequate sleep is required for the optimal functioning of our bodies and our minds. Despite this, many of us are getting far less sleep than we need.

While the amount of sleep needed varies from person to person, it is believed that most individuals need around eight hours of sleep per night for optimal functioning. It is estimated that Americans are getting only six hours and 40 minutes of sleep per night on average, and most report feeling that they need an additional 40 minutes of sleep to feel awake and refreshed. What we do not always realize, however, is that not only the amount of sleep, but also the quality of sleep—which is determined by the length of continuous time a person is asleep for—affects how refreshed and restored we feel. Sometimes other sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder will disrupt and fragment sleep and, if present, these conditions should be treated.

In addition to the many problems for the individual, chronic states of sleep deprivation have consequences for society, as well. It is estimated that 10 to 19 percent of automobile accidents are the result of sleepy driving. Most of these accidents occur during the overnight hours and in the mid-afternoon, when individuals are more likely to feel sleepy. These accidents are often very serious because drivers do not have the chance to apply the brake before the crash. In fact, rates of fatalities due to sleepy driving are now estimated to be nearly the same as alcohol related automobile accidents.

There are also economic consequences related to sleep deprivation. One study estimated the cost of sleep-related accidents (on the road, in the workplace and at home) was $43-to-56 billion annually. Sadly, both the Exxon Valdez spill and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster are attributed, in part, to sleep-deprived workers.

The medical community has become increasingly aware of the negative consequences of sleep deprivation on medical residents in the hospital. Numerous studies have shown that during lengthy hospital shifts, medical errors increase, vigilance and memory decrease, and medical residents become less skilled at performing procedures. The quality of communication between doctor and patient has also been shown to decrease, and medical residents may become more irritable with patients. Because all of these factors lead to a decrease in quality of care, measures have been put in place to limit medical resident work hours.

As with adults, sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for children, but they often manifest differently. While adults tend to slow down and are noticeably physically tired, children often act up, becoming irritable and even hyperactive. In their teenage years, the internal clock that helps to regulate sleep and wakefulness—known as the circadian rhythm—tends to shift later. This means that teenagers have a biological drive to stay up late and sleep in. This pattern can lead to troublesome sleep deprivation when adolescents are required to get up early for school. If this is a problem, a sleep doctor may be able to help.

Sleep deprivation is wide-spread in American culture and has real consequences not only for our bodies, but for our society at large, as well. Regulations are being put in place to help prevent sleep deprivation at the workplace, but as individuals we should be asking ourselves if we are getting the sleep we need to be happy and productive in our lives.

Biography

Sarah M. Richey, M.D., is the Lead Physician for Sleep Medicine for the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group’s Northern Virginia region. Her clinic duties include diagnosing and treating a wide range of sleep disorders and interpreting sleep studies.

She is Board Certified in Psychiatry and is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Medical Society of Virginia. She has been with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group since 2009.

Tags: health, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, sleep