Essay --

Sleep: Why We Need It or Do We? There are many different philosophies on how much sleep the body needs or doesn’t need. Sleep has been said to be the body’s way of refueling. It allows the body to restore its mental energy (msnbc.com). The question is how much sleep does the body truly need to function? One theory pertaining to sleep is that if your body has a lack of sleep it would just adapt to less sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause us to lose our agility, cognitive, and immune responses. There is no explanation as to why people sleep an average of eight hours each night (msnbc.com). Scientists are still exploring the bodies need for sleep, depths of sleep, typical sleep patterns, the negative impact a lack of sleep can cause, if age and schedules of people affect it, and to what degree does it affect the functions of the nervous system. Sleep deprivation has been a major factor in some of the biggest disasters in history. The notable ones are the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear meltdown, and the 1979 Nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (Peri). Drowsiness is also a leading cause of accidents according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They estimate that nearly 100,000 automobile accidents and 1,550 crash-related deaths occur each year in the United States (Peri). Some work related injuries are also cause by a poor quality of sleep. There are many other negative factors that are related to sleep deprivation. It is estimated that 90% of people who suffer from insomnia also suffer from other medical issues. People who Gautier 2 suffer from sleep disorders are at a higher risk for high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, heart attack and h... ...stems. The researchers have found a connection between lack of sleep and obesity in adults and children. Reduced levels of leptin, a hormone that is produced by an adipose tissue hormone, cause the body to not suppress the appetite (Colten). In conclusion, scientists have discovered that the body is negatively impacted from a lack of sleep. Human bodies need sleep to restore and maintain its cognitive process, bodily functions, overall health and well being. The body has to have all depths of sleep in order to function properly. Sleep deprivation can cause serious health issues such as heart disease, lower sex drive, obesity, and heart attack. Age is a factor in how many quality hours we require throughout our lifetime. Scientists continue to discover more information every day on how our sleep can impact the body, mental state, and overall happiness.