Several studies have noted significant changes in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, as well as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, in participants who were deprived of deep sleep, also known as slow wave sleep (SWS). Type 2 Diabetes - Studies have also noted links between sleep issues and type 2 diabetes, which is of particular interest since we have seen a substantial rise in the number of people diagnosed with this degenerative condition over the past decade.
A group of researchers who were exploring such a link concluded that “treating sleep disorders may conceivably have a major impact on improvements in cardiovascular morbidity in the population.” Another study demonstrated that insomnia, in particular, was a major contributor to stroke, especially in younger men who may be dismissive of their symptoms. Physical Changes in WellbeingĬardiovascular Disorders - Several key studies in recent years have suggested a strong link between sleep deprivation and cardiovascular disorders, the number one cause of death in the United States. Some of the complications that are brought on due to a lack of proper sleep can be quite serious and may contribute to significant changes in physical and psychological wellbeing and may, in fact, contribute to early mortality. However, it is more difficult to recollect dreams that occur in NREM sleep, particularly in its deeper stages.Īlthough we still do not know exactly why we sleep, we have ample data on what happens to us when we are deprived of this complex and fascinating state of consciousness.Ĭomplications That Can Result From a Lack of Sleep While for some time it was thought that we dream only in REM sleep, we now know we dream in both NREM and REM sleep. Generally speaking, our sleep can be divided into 2 phases: While minor interruptions occur between some sleep cycles, we should be able to fall back to sleep quickly. Most people need about 5 to 6 cycles of sleep daily, each of which lasts about 90 minutes. It should initially take between 10 and 15 minutes to fall asleep.
Today we have a pretty good idea as to why these symptoms (changes in memory, weight gain, and aggressive tendencies) and others may present themselves when we are sleep-deprived. (By the way, at that time, the participants in my study were a group of rats!) However, those same findings were observed in human participants a few years later. When I conducted my first sleep study on the consequences of rapid eye movement (REM) deprivation, some of our findings, which included memory deterioration, weight gain, and aggression, were hard to explain. Those “maladaptive” approaches tend to work initially but, in the long run, cause more problems, even serious ones. Sadly, people who suffer from chronic insomnia often are not properly diagnosed, and, even worse, they may be placed on hypnotics (sleeping pills) for an extended period or resort to various maladaptive approaches to address their insomnia. In a sense, we are a nation of insomniacs, and the problem is not going away-it is getting worse. Understanding Sleep ProblemsĪccording to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, more than 70 million Americans suffer from persistent insomnia or inability to sleep. But we are currently learning so much about the complex nature of sleep that it is important to stay close to the latest developments in the field by examining scientific publications while discussing the topic. I hope you don’t mind the somewhat academic nature of this article.