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James Rohrer
Mr. Waggoner
English Comp 2
28 March 2021
Rough Draft

Do you think that you get enough sleep every night? Personally, I know I don’t get

enough sleep, but how much is enough? I want to find out how sleep deprivation affects our

health. Sleep deprivation in our generation is an epidemic, it negatively affects our daily lives;

We feel this physically and mentally, and our cognitive ability is hindered.

Sleep deprivation is a major risk factor to human health. Anything less than seven hours

of sleep can lead to negative affects on our health. Short sleep can be known as anything less

than 7 hours of sleep, it has been linked with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and

obesity (Liu). Those are just some of the health affects associated with sleep deprivation. Obesity

has always been around in humanity and sleep deprivation goes hand and hand with that. Along

with the higher blood pressure we see a diabetic problem when dealing with sleep deprivation.

Diabetes Mellitus has been known to be a big risk factor for CDC (coronary heart disease), sleep

deprivation has been known to be linked to diabetes mellitus (Bianchi). Sleep restrictions

(5hours/night) have been known to reduce insulin sensitivity. With inadequate sleep there is

increased insulin tolerance and low glucose tolerance making sleep deprivation a severe problem

for people with diabetic issues at health risk.

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From those diabetic issues they can lead to heart problems. CDC is a heart disease that

when arteries of the heart aren’t able to give oxygen to the heart. This is one of leading causes of

death in the USA. (Covenant HealthCare). Sleep disturbances have been known to negativity

affect the cardiovascular system. As well as increased heart rate spoken about before.

This chart shows the increase in heart rate from control sleep and partial sleep deprivation.

Fig.1.11 Controlled sleep and non-controlled shown through heart rate

Sleep takes up about 30% of our day it is very important to our daily lives. With sleep

deprivation we have the risk of CDC. As well as an increased risk with too much sleep as well.

Only 1/3 of the population sleeps more than about 8 hours of sleep each day, the other 1/3 gets

about 6 hours each day (Bianchi). With the increase in sleep deprivation there is in increase an

evidence of CDC and hypertension from sleep deprivation. Other issues such as Endothelial
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dysfunction/ED are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Ed is an non

obstructive artery disease, this is where we see no heart artery issues, but we see large blood

vessels that constrict instead of opening (SHC). There are also cases of ED from increased blood

pressure and increased heart rate that can also cause ED. Finally sleep deprivation has been show

have an affect on mortality. This is shown through both short amounts of sleep and too long of

amounts of sleep. Sleep less than 7 hours or greater than 8 hours had a 30% higher risk in

mortality, rather the being at 8 hours of sleep (Bianchi). The study of how CDC and sleep

deprivation are still in the early stages, but you can’t ignore these issues associated with sleep

deprivation and CDC.

To continue on the physical health problems associated with sleep deprivation. Sleep is

nonactive state, so there is an absence of sensory activates. Sleep deprivation has been linked to

many metabolic disorders such as obesity. “During the sleep, occur a decrease in metabolic

demand, consequently, glucose turnover decreases during sleep, because a decrease in demands

of the brain, skeletal muscle and hepatic glucose activity” (Williams). Our bodies demand more

to recover, and we recover through sleep. So, these demands are crucial for muscle growth and

recovery.

Continuing on with physical health in relation with sleep deprivation; Sleep is

fundamental for the physical recovery of our bodies. This is even more prevalent in athletes

whose bodies relay on this muscle growth and recovery. Sleep deprivation can result in the

breakdown of many basic body functions. Sleep deprivation does not cause these muscle

breakdowns or injuries, although they do go hand in hand. In athletes the injuries come from the

sport and that is the risk. But athletes who have sleep deprivation feel those repercussions. “The

significance of rest for competitors have been recently exhibited by Watson in 2017, who
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proposed that competitors need total amount of sleep of somewhere in the range of 9 and 10 h to

recuperate" (de Sousa Nogueira Freitas). Sleep deprivation is very common in athletes. There are

many reasons, competitive calendar, altered sleep schedule and other training demands. A recent

study from the 2016 Rio games did a sleep questionnaire on the athletes. This study was

conducted using a polysomnography, a comprehensive study that records brainwaves, heart rate

and blood pressure, as well as body movements. A recent study had shown that out of 250 people

53% had sleep disorders while the other 47% had been waking up tired (de Sousa Nogueira

Freitas). Athletes social and physical environments often lead to a lack of sleep restoration.

There are many hormonal s during sleep. These are a crucial part of body recovery. Sleep

is a physiological where our bodies experience reduction of responses. “REM is high-frequency

brain activity and low amplitude, almost like waking up. Made up of rapid eye movements, as

well as muscle relaxation” (de Sousa Nogueira Freitas). There are many things that occur during

rem sleep, mainly regain our cognitive ability. Along with hormonal spikes of testosterone,

which is very important for sleep consolidation. While NON-REM sleep is associated with

growth hormones (GH).  This release occurs, “Is the state of wakefulness and REM sleep, this is

vital for recovering muscle tissues, as well as physically” (de Sousa Nogueira Freitas). There is

an important rhythm between these two hormone releases. During the daytime even if REM

sleep is occurred those same hormones are not being released because it is out of rhythm since

they are released during the night. In the context of this topic, a study was conducted on a group

of rats to test the effects of SD and SR. Studies showed that SR or SD negatively effects muscles

and skeletal systems of animals. This happens through an error of catabolic and anabolic

pathways, leading to protein degradation and a tougher time with protein synthesis. (de Sousa

Nogueira Freitas). The results concluded from this study led the group to look into the muscles
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of the rats. It was reported that after 96 hours of REM SD their weight loss with the anterior

tibial muscle fibers in the rats. As well as an increase of corticosterone levels, and a decrease in

testosterone levels. These are the negative hormone effects of SD and SR.

There have been cases of SD and negative effects and skeletal muscle injuries. There

have been studies conducted using athletes to show the negative effects of the SD and skeletal

muscle injuries. Although these skeletal muscles have a higher plasticity and are able to recover

from many types of injures. It has been known that SR has been associated with a reduction of

physical capabilities. Absence of rest contrarily negatively effects skeletal muscles, and the

hormonal awkwardness and cytokines may add with these impacts, particularly after the

presentation of improvements that bring about more noteworthy musculoskeletal harm, since

focused energy exercise can influence fiery reactions".(de Sousa Nogueira Freitas). Thus, these

impacts could cause musculoskeletal injury. Muscle damage occurs muscle, cells start release

Creatine Kinase. This is an indicator that muscle damage has taken place. That is why sleep is

essential for muscle recovery and preventing musculoskeletal injuries.

Moving on from the negative affects SD has physically on our body we move to the

mental effects. Think about how you feel after you don’t get enough sleep. I always remember

not being called a morning person when I was younger. Those we negative moods effects from

my body not getting enough sleep and having SD. Many people who suffer from SD tend to

suffer from insomnia as well. Insomnia is essentially the struggle of the initiation of sleep or

maintenance, and not feel recharged from sleep. The easiest way to find out to test if you suffer

from insomnia would be to use a Polysomnography. The power spectral analysis that combines

amplitude and frequency of PSG waves, gives high activity and low alpha power during

wakefulness, this occurs in patients that have insomnia (Rahmani). Insomnia is a common sleep
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disorder. Insomnia and depression have been linked together. Data shows that 40% of the

individuals that have chronic insomnia have been also known to have reported to having mental

illness’; Depression being the most common reported mental illness with sleep deprivation

(Bianchi). Treatment insomnia can help reduce and stop depression. That is one mental

health disorder that leads to other mental health issues.

While on the topic of mental health we move toward anxiety from SD. Increased anxiety

levels are one of the biggest consequences from SD. There are two ways that SD and anxiety

have been linked. The first link has been from anxiety disorders and SD. The second link has

been from insomnia and other mental disorders such as PTSD. It has shown an opposite

relationship when linked to sleep deprivation effecting anxiety. Short term sleep deprivation has

been linked to an increased anxiety. (Pires). But among most studies we see SD and anxiety

being one of the most common health disorders dealing with SD. Even after sleep is attained

people can be restless in the 53%night with anxiety and from there the challenge of their mind

comes into effect. Racing thoughts flood their minds and they lose control.

Moving on with mental illness linked with sleep deprivation we have depression. Sleep

deprivation and depression have been linked. Chronic exposure of sleep deprivation has seen

increased risk of depression. These risks have a massive impact on the younger fragile minds that

depend on proper sleep and mental health and being at younger mind state makes them more

vulnerable to mental illness. This state of adolescence and sleep deprivation show different

results in different genders. The state of adolescence is associated with weaker mental health,

beings so you we see many mental health issues that occur. Mainly depression which and have

short term and long-term effects on health. This early state of depression can lead to many

negative thoughts such as suicide, substance misuse, and overall quality of life. Like I said before
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these can be long term and short term, mental illness at a younger can lead to more serious

outbreaks and major depressive episodes. These disturbances in sleep have linked to multiple

adverse h effects. Such as mood disturbances, and depression. A study was conducted and found

that “A study was conducted of 3,114 people ages 11-17 that sleep deprivation during the week

is associated with 40% chance of seeing depressive symptoms a year later” (Conklin). This

shows that over time there is an increased rate of depression or developing depression at a

younger age from sleep deprivation.

Continuing with depression and Sleep deprivation; There was another study conducted

following this study. Descriptive statistics was used to show that the results of this study. The

strategy of the analysis was to compare the gender association with chronic sleep deprivation and

depression. Multiple linear regression models normally begin with an term for sleep deprivation

(Conklin). The results from this study concluded that 921/3071(30%) of young people had

reported having sleep deprivation, and 17% had chronic sleep deprivation. The case concluded

that there were higher amounts of depression in younger women compared to younger men.

While Sleep deprivation and depression have been linked, there has been an information

regarding depression treatment with being sleep deprived. There is a combination study with

light therapy and sleep deprivation called combined chronotherapy. It is used to treat patients

with bipolar depression. A study was conducted of on “26 patients with depression, unipolar or

bipolar had received a combined chronotherapy for three nights of sleep deprivation. They had

recovery nights that had using light therapy, as well as the use of antidepressant medicine”

(Sikkens). These scores were later compared over time, week by week. Those scores have shown

that “They found that from 62% -15%. After 4 weeks the percentage patients with severe and no

severe depression had dropped to 28%. Paitens with no depression or mild depression at the start
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was about 0% and 7%. Results show that 4 weeks after the test 16% had no depression and 20%

had slight depression based on the results.” (Sikkens).

The results of this study show that chronotherapy have are somewhat an effective way of

treating bipolar depression and unipolar. This gives a positive relationship between Sleep

deprivation and mental health effects. Showing that there aren’t only negative effects mentally

from sleep deprivation.

Finally, we move on the relation of sleep deprivation and cognitive ability. Sleep is

necessary in cognitive performance, without sleep there is a lack in performance and memory,

emotional, and other cognitive performance. These are all adverse effects of chronic sleep

deprivation. A study was completed on neuropsychological performance among Internal

Medicine residents at Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán in

Mexico City. Participants that had depression and other mental illness, as well as any prescribed

drugs were excluded from this study. To reduce the acute sleep deprivation participants were told

to have a minimum of 8 hours of sleep before the test was conducted. Then a test would be
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conducted after 12 months after they had lived there. The test was conducted was Stroop test.

“The Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) is a neuropsychological test extensively used to

assess the ability to inhibit cognitive interference.” (Scarpina). The results of this test can be

shown through this table.

Table 1. Stroop test results in 30 PGY1 internal medicine residents at baseline (within 2
weeks before starting residency training) and after 1-year of residency (Guraieb-Chahin)
Neuropsychological test Baseline assessment mean (± SD) 12-month follow-up assessment mean (± SD) p

Words 49.8 (± 8.7) 47.7 (± 6.7) 0.08

Colors 48.5 (± 11.5) 42.3 (± 9.6) 0.006

Words-colors 50.6 (± 10.5) 43.8 (± 11.3) 0.002

Interference 53.2 (± 8.0) 47.8 (± 12.9) 0.02

SD: standard deviation.

For the Stroop test you can see the Signiant decrease in scores from the start of test to the

12-month test results. Showing the negative cognitive affects from being sleep deprived. Based

on this information you can conclude that Chronic sleep deprivation can have adverse effects

such as poor working memory, and processing speed. That is how sleep deprivation negatively

affects cogitative performance and functions.

To conclude, Sleep deprivation will continue to be an epidemic and will be more and

more cases of it each year. People need to look at the symptoms and listen to what their body

tells them. Physically our bodies will be remained drained of energy, mentally we will be

unstable and overwhelmed, and wondering why we seem to not recall things as well as we used

too. I personally believe that sleep deprivation will never go away and remain an issue in society.

Because everyone makes their own choices and choses how much they sleep or can’t sleep.
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After researching sleep deprivation, I know that I am sleep deprived myself. Do you think that

you suffer from sleep deprivation? Or are you just tired?

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Works Cited

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2014. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
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Conklin, Annalijn I., et al. “Chronic Sleep Deprivation and Gender-Specific Risk of Depression in
Adolescents: A Prospective Population-Based Study.” BMC Public Health, vol. 18, no. 1, June
2018, p. 724. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1186/s12889-018-5656-6.

de Sousa Nogueira Freitas, Luísa, et al. “Sleep Debt Induces Skeletal Muscle Injuries in Athletes: A
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Sikkens, D., et al. “Combined Sleep Deprivation and Light Therapy: Clinical Treatment Outcomes in
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