Why Sleep Issues May Be More Dangerous Than You May Think

By Sarah Sealey

Insomnia is usually not a deadly disease, although it can be dangerous. Not getting an adequate amount of rest may be dangerous when operating cars or trucks or other machinery and can even bring about additional medical problems. Physicians advise that we get eight hours of sleep a night for a reason.

Studies show that up to 200,000 car accidents in the U.S. are attributable to sleep-deprived drivers every year, and that 1,500 of those accidents end in death. Studies also indicate that around one third of Americans have admitted to falling asleep while driving a car, and that 10% of the incidents ended in an automobile accident. People who suffer from chronic sleepiness (insomnia or a different sleep problem) are more likely to fall asleep while driving than people who have regular sleep habits.

You might be surprised to learn that your sleep habits could have an influence on how long you live. A study done in 2002 shows that people that sleep around seven hours each night have the highest lifespan, whereas people who slept six hours or less, or eight hours or more had shorter life spans. Sleep loss by itself doesn't make you have a higher mortality rate, but this same research revealed that people who took sleeping pills did have a higher death rate.

Not surprisingly, your sleep habits can have a significant impact on your quality of life. People who have insomnia could have a quality of life that is nearly as bad as people who have chronic health conditions, such as heart problems. That's because individuals who have insomnia experience more fatigue, irritability, and poorer relationships with their family and friends compared to people who get enough rest. Insomniacs also have more attention and memory difficulties, which often lead to more mistakes at the office. All of these put together can definitely result in a decline in your quality of life.

Insomnia is capable of having a significant impact on your disposition (you know you are grumpy when you do not get plenty of sleep). But it may also lead to depression or other psychological issues. Sleep disorders and psychological problems are so related that often treating a person for insomnia might minimize or even remedy their emotional issues.

As you can see, insomnia will surely take a toll on your body. A sleep disorder can do more than make us tired, it can result in accidents or even severe health concerns down the road. If you suffer from sleep problems for more than a few nights or a few weeks, you ought to go to a doctor to get sleep treatments and also to make sure that there are no other health conditions triggering your sleeplessness.

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