Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Few studies have compared the effects of acute total sleep deprivation and chronic partial sleep restriction. Complete absence of sleep over long periods is impossible for humans to achieve (unless they suffer from fatal familial insomnia); brief microsleeps cannot be avoided. Long-term total sleep deprivation has caused death in lab animals.
Read more about Sleep Deprivation: Physiological Effects, Sleep Apnea, Mental Illness, School, Counteracting The Effects of Sleep Deprivation, Longest Period Without Sleep, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words sleep and/or deprivation:
“My one and noble heart has witnesses
In all love’s countries, that will watch awake;
And when blind sleep falls on the spying senses,
The heart is sensual, though five eyes break.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
“Clever people are never credited with their follies: what a deprivation of human rights!”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)