THE IMPACT OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION ON HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

Sleep is a fundamental biological need, yet insufficient sleep has become widespread in modern societies. This review summarises the evidence on the consequences of acute and chronic sleep deprivation for human health. Adults are recommended to sleep at least seven hours per night, but about one-third of adults in some countries report sleeping less than this. Experimental studies show that restricting sleep to six hours per night for two weeks produces cognitive deficits comparable to those caused by two nights of total sleep deprivation, and that 17–19 hours of wakefulness impair performance to a degree similar to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%. Meta-analyses of prospective studies link short sleep to higher all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity, while experimental studies demonstrate impaired glucose metabolism and reduced resistance to infection. The article discusses the mechanisms underlying these associations and considers the particular vulnerability of medical students and health workers. Promoting healthy sleep should be regarded as an essential component of public health and medical education