Can Sleep Deprivation Kill You?

The average sleep debt is not going to cause you to drop dead. However, sleep deprivation is a serious health issue!

Getting through your day is much more difficult without proper sleep. Sleep deprivation causes loss of memory and cognitive functioning, increased moodiness and depression and can adversely affect interpersonal relationships and motor skills.

The researchers are speaking out! Inadequate sleep is now associated with heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, among other chronic diseases.

Intentionally driving yourself without allowing for proper sleep isn't wise. You may also have issues with snoring, stress, heartburn, and chronic pain that are disrupting your rest. Be aware that these same issues may also be symptoms of serious health conditions.

A sleep study may seem like over kill to you, but if you consult with a sleep expert, it may improve your sleep adding years to your life and avoiding some major health issues! If you have a condition called sleep apnea, which simply means that you stop breathing while you sleep, a sleep study can save your life. If you have this condition, there is a chance that you will die in your sleep each and every night. Even if sleep apnea doesn't kill you, it will devastate your health!

* If you don't have a spouse to notice your sleep apnea, there are other signs that you can see yourself.
* Falling asleep during the day, while doing activities can alert you to this dangerous condition.
* Dimmed vision, reduced hearing, dizziness, confusion, headache, sweating, pounding heart, shortness of breath and muscle tremors may all be signs of sleep apnea.
* You may attribute your sleepiness to insomnia or narcolepsy, but if you are being effected this way, it is worth asking your doctor for a sleep study.

Don't minimize your sleep deprivation! Even without sleep apnea, you are dying if you are not getting enough sleep!

If you aren't making enough nerve energy while you sleep, your body doesn't have enough fuel to function properly. Ignore your sleep debt and you WILL deteriorate! Sleep deprivation is seriously harmful to your well being!

Anxiety about not getting enough sleep is actually a common cause of not getting enough sleep! Don't over react with night time waking, everyone has restless nights.

When you have a tough time falling asleep, try one or several of the following techniques:

* incorporate exercise into your daily routine
* get a message
* listen to soft music
* drink warm milk
* drink relaxing herbal teas
* herbal tinctures (concentrated herbal remedies)
* homeopathic remedies
* avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tabacco
* sleep in a well ventilated room
* sleep on a high quality firm bed
* keep regular sleeping hours, waking late on the weekend will cause a "jet lag" feeling
* if you can't sleep get up and engage in a boring activity
* reserve your bedroom for sleeping
* keep your bedroom dark and cool
* sleeping medication is something you want to use only after you've given sleep aids without side effects a try
* Dr. Oz suggests sex, it's worth a try

You may hear the suggestion that naps are a bad idea if you have insomnia. However, if you need sleep you should get it when you can. Relax, paying a sleep debt is cozy business.