Chronic sleep deprivation is sleep deprivation over a long period of time. It can have catastrophic effects on health and performance in all areas of life, and should be taken very seriously. Sleep deprivation is caused by not getting enough sleep. The right amount of sleep will be different for different ages and individuals, but the point is, if you aren’t getting the sleep you need, you will become sleep deprived. Are you getting enough sleep?
Chronic sleep deprivation is different from acute sleep deprivation in that acute sleep deprivation:
Chronic sleep deprivation may or may not have a known cause. But it usually entails getting less than needed sleep most or every day, which may be followed by binge sleeping and exhaustion.
Adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep per day – you will likely require sleep within this range depending on your lifestyle and unique needs. Numerous studies show that getting less than 7 hours of sleep per day (this includes naps) has negative side effects on nearly everybody.
The severity of your chronic sleep deprivation, which can be moderate or severe, will depend on how much less sleep you are getting than you need.
Symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation can be subtle or marked, depending on both the severity of sleep deprivation and the personality who is affected. But often, symptoms are noticeable by the sleep deprived and their loved ones. Here are common symptoms.
People with chronic sleep deprivation perform lower in most areas of life:
Fatigue and exhaustion are usually the most obvious signs of chronic sleep deprivation. This takes the form of:
Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, which can cause chronic sleep deprivation, can lead to chronic cognitive dysfunction
Chronic sleep deprivation can also significantly reduce your cognitive ability in the following ways:
If severe enough, cognitive dysfunction will be noticed by teachers and employers.
Chronic sleep deprivation can seriously disrupt emotional regulation and hormones, leading to:
Physical and emotional energy also play important roles in maintaining libido. Sleep deprivation can decrease libidic energy for men and women alike, leading to reduced sex drive and sexual trouble.
For men, chronic sleep deprivation can have even more impact. Men replenish testosterone during sleep. Without testosterone, men are at great risk for suffering from erectile dysfunction and further reduced sex drive.
Studies show that sleep problems often lead to sexual problems for men. One study, for example, found that in 531 men, patients who slept 4 hours or less had half as much testosterone as patients who sleep 8+ hours. Other studies have been remarkably consistent with their findings, with several other studies citing the ED sleep apnea link at 40%, 46%, 61%, 64%, and 69%.
Usually, chronic sleep deprivation is caused by one of a few things:
Sleep disorders by definition cause sleep deprivation. Common sleep disorders include:
Treating chronic sleep deprivation is dependent on several factors that are unique to you, such as the cause. But there are a few things we can all do to ensure we are setting ourselves up to get the best night’s rest:
Beyond this, work with your doctor of a sleep specialist to try and get back to nights of quality sleep. If you live in Alaska and are chronically sleep deprived, start by taking this free online sleep test.