Lack of Sleep

Professor visits Russia

Jessica Lovell

Roll out of Bed

Lack of sleep can affect students' ability to learn

By Eric Rose
Staff Writer

Cartoon Many college students feel the effects of sleep depravation on a daily basis. Some consider it part of the college experience.

However, experts agree that prolonged episodes of sleep deprivation can have a bad effect on the mind and body.

According to the 2002 "Sleep in America" poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), only 30 percent of Americans sleep eight or more hours a night.

The NSF says that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. The average American sleeps 6.9 hours a night.

Adults ages 18-24 are the group most affected by insomnia (the inability to sleep regularly). The NSF says that 35 percent of Americans experience insomnia every night.

Only 33 percent of those surveyed claim to sleep "good," and only 10 percent report "excellent" sleep.

Sleep deprivation occurs when a person goes without sleep for an extended period of time. According to Shannon Pruitt, sleep lab coordinator at the Sleep Research Center of Floyd Medical Center, some of the causes for sleep deprivation in college students are late night studying, stress and partying.

According to the NSF, some warning signs of sleep deprivation are:

Dozing off while engaged in an activity such as reading, watching TV, sitting in meetings or sitting in traffic

Slowed thinking and reacting

Difficulty listening to what is said or understanding directions

Difficulty remembering or retaining information

Frequent errors or mistakes

Narrowing of attention, missing important changes in a situation

Poor judgment in complex situations

Difficulty coming up with a new approach to a problem when the old approach is not working

Depression or negative mood

Impatience or being quick to anger

Frequent blinking, difficulty focusing eyes or heavy eyelids

Pruitt said that sleep deprivation affects the reflexes and the ability to stay awake during the day.

"After a while your body just shuts down and your brain stops functioning properly. It can make other illnesses worse," said Pruitt.

Some try to control the effects of sleep deprivation with caffeine, a stimulant which some people claim helps them stay alert when they are feeling tired.

However, according to Pruitt, caffeine makes a person's brain waves faster.

Caffeine also has harmful side effects. It is bad for the nervous system, and it is also bad for the kidneys because it affects the body's ability to process water. Caffeine is also bad for the heart, because it speeds up the heartbeat.

Use of caffeine is also a contributing factor to cancer.

"In the long run, caffeine works to hinder you," said Pruitt.

In a study entitled "The Relationships between Sleep-Wake Cycle and Academic Performance in Medical Students" by Ana Ligia D. Medeiros, Patricia F. Lima and Denise B.F. Mendes, results showed that students who sleep regularly are more likely to perform better academically.

"Students who showed a more regular sleep-wake cycle and longer sleep length reported better academic performance," the study stated. "The results that showed worse academic performance in students who had irregular sleep-wake cycles and shorter sleep lengths could reveal only one part of the consequences."

When asked how students can help prevent sleep deprivation, Pruitt said, "They need to have good sleep hygiene-going to bed and wake up at a certain time-even on weekends."

Pruitt also suggested that students keep a sleep diary.

She said, "Write down when you sleep, when you wake up, your mealtimes, and any naps during the day, and take this with you to your doctor."