Sleep Deprivation
A reference for students, people who work, and everybody else.
At getsleep.com: You may be sleep deprived if you:
Causes
• are always tired
Effects
Prevention • are easily irritated
Links • cannot handle any amount of stress
About this site • are easily distracted
Site map
• cannot remember newly learned material
• see blurry all the time
• see changes in your appetite
Choose a link to the left to learn about sleep
deprivation and how to prevent it, or click the “Next”
button.
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Causes of Sleep Deprivation
At getsleep.com: • Not allowing enough time for sleep
Causes
• Anxiety
Effects
• Sleep disorders
Prevention
• Medication
Links
• Depression
About this site
• Working at night
Site map
• Numerous awakenings due to sounds
• Lack of exercise
• Jet Lag
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Common Sleep Disorders
At getsleep.com: • Sleep Apnea - Temporary absence or cessation
Causes of breathing.
Effects • Narcolepsy - A disorder characterized by sudden
and uncontrollable, though often brief, attacks of
Prevention
deep sleep, sometimes accompanied by
Links paralysis and hallucinations.
About this site • Insomnia - Chronic inability to fall asleep or
Site map remain asleep for an adequate length of time.
• Restless Legs - feeling of uneasiness and
restlessness in the legs after going to bed
(sometimes causing insomnia); may be relieved
temporarily by walking or moving the legs
If you are concerned you may have a sleep
disorder, you should seek medical advice.
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Get Help
At getsleep.com: If you or your partner are concerned about sleep
Causes disorders, seek medical advice. You may start by
Effects asking your doctor, or by getting an appointment at
Prevention an accredited sleep center in your area. For a
Links listing of accredited centers, write to the address
About this site below:
Site map
The National Sleep Foundation,
1522 K St., NW, Suite 510,
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 347-3471
Fax: (202) 347-3472
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Late Shift Work
At getsleep.com: • Because of our natural circadian rhythms,
Causes workers cannot permanently adjust to a late
Effects night shift.
Prevention • Rotating shifts frequently does not allow enough
Links time to adjust.
About this site • If shift work is necessary, it is best to rotate the
shifts about every 14 - 21 days, and to rotate by
Site map
delay, not advancing the shift.
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Jet Lag
At getsleep.com: • Jet lag is a disruption of circadian and bodily
Causes rhythms caused by traveling to a significantly
Effects different time zone.
Prevention • Flying west is less disruptive to sleep patterns
Links than flying east.
About this site • To alleviate jet lag, set your watch on the local
time immediately. Get yourself on the local
Site map
schedule as quickly as possible
• When possible, give yourself a day for recovery.
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Effects on Mental Ability
At getsleep.com: • Slowing of mental processing
Causes
• Problems remembering
Effects
• Decreased reaction time
Prevention
• Decrease in quality of performance
Links
• Decreased sensation
About this site
Site map Effects on Health…
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Effects on Health
At getsleep.com: • Quicker fatiguing
Causes
• Difficulty with relationships
Effects
• Breathing disorders
Prevention
• Heart disease
Links
• Depression
About this site
Site map
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Ways to Avoid Sleep
Deprivation
At getsleep.com: • Give yourself time to sleep!
Causes • If a long shift is approaching, build up “sleep
credits” by sleeping longer before the shift.
Effects
• Avoid using drugs like caffeine to stay awake
Prevention longer.
Links • When possible, stay within the circadian rhythm,
by sleeping when the sun is down and being
About this site
awake when the sun is up.
Site map • Take naps!
• Exercise regularly.
• Get help. If you (or your partner) have a serious
sleep disorder, medication and treatment may
help. Click here for information about sleep
disorders.
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Links
getsleep.com is not responsible for the content on these pages.
At getsleep.com:
Causes
Effects
Prevention Sleepnet.com
Links
About this site
Site map
National Sleep
Foundation
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About this site
At getsleep.com: This webpage is brought to you as a project in
Causes Rebecca Boren’s Human Factors course. To
Effects
view the course website, click here.
Prevention
Links
About this site
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Questions? Comments?
E-mail the webmasters
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Site Map
At getsleep.com: • Sleep Deprivation Home
Causes • Causes of Sleep Deprivation
Effects – Common Sleep Disorders
• Get Help
Prevention
– Late Shift Work
Links
– Jet Lag
About this site • Effects
Site map – On Mental Ability
– On Health
• Ways to Avoid Sleep Deprivation
• Links
– Sleepnet.com
– National Sleep Foundation
• About this site
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