Many Americans are chronically sleep-deprived; up to eighty percent
of adults, by some estimates. Much of this deprivation can be attributed
to ever-more frantic lifestyles, but a significant portion also comes
from poor sleep habits. Some have found relief through sleep
inducing drugs as well as herbal remedies. However and comfort related products like memory foam
mattresses as well as good sleep habits such as relaxing before bed
with a book rather than watching TV can dramatically improve quality of
sleep.
Lack of sleep can
make us feel drowsy during the day, we may become irritable, depressed
and lack motivation, but there are other, more serious risks. Sleep
deprivation can make everyday activities like driving more dangerous,
and has the potential to impact every facet of our lives.
That is why millions of Americans are seeking way's to improve the
quality of their sleep, and ultimately the quality of their daily lives.
Sleep is essential to life. In some laboratory studies, rats who were
denied REM stage sleep lived only a few weeks, from a normal lifespan of
several years. Clinical studies have also shown repeatedly that for
drivers, fatigue can be as dangerous as intoxication. More than 100,000
accidents per year can be attributed to fatigue, and many of those
drivers may not even have realized how tired they were.
While the need for sleep varies greatly for each individual, most
adults require between seven and eight hours of sleep per night. Some
may need as few as five hours, while others may require as many as ten
hours per night. Contrary to what many believe, the body does not
"adapt" to less sleep, but rather, lost sleep contributes to what
scientists call our "sleep debt". If we miss one hour of sleep every
night for several days, eventually our bodies will demand repayment.
Many people find time on the weekends for these extra hours of sleep,
but this constant cycle of depletion and renewal takes its toll.
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