Sleep deprivation, also known as 

sleep insufficiency or sleeplessness, is the condition of not

having adequate duration and/or quality of sleep to support decent alertness, performance, and
health. It can be either chronic or acute and may vary widely in severity.
Acute sleep deprivation is when an individual sleeps less than usual or does not sleep at all for a
short period of time – usually lasting one to two days. Chronic sleep deprivation means when an
individual routinely sleeps less than an optimal amount for ideal functioning. Chronic sleep
deficiency is often confused with the term insomnia. Although both chronic sleep deficiency and
insomnia share decreased quantity and/or quality of sleep as well as impaired function, their
difference lies on the ability to fall asleep. Sleep deprived individuals are able to fall asleep
rapidly when allowed but those suffering from insomnia have difficulty falling asleep. [1]
A chronic sleep-restricted state adversely affects the brain and cognitive function.[2] However, in a
subset of cases, sleep deprivation can paradoxically lead to increased energy and alertness and
enhanced mood; although its long-term consequences have never been evaluated, sleep
deprivation has even been used as a treatment for depression.[3][4]
Few studies have compared the effects of acute total sleep deprivation and chronic partial sleep
restriction.[2] A complete absence of sleep over a long period is not frequent in humans (unless
they suffer from fatal insomnia or specific issues caused by surgery); it appears that
brief microsleeps cannot be avoided.[5] Long-term total sleep deprivation has caused death in lab
animals.[

insomnia[edit]
Main article: Insomnia
Insomnia, one of the six types of dyssomnia, affects 21–37% of the adult population.[7][8] Many of
its symptoms are easily recognizable, including excessive daytime sleepiness; frustration or
worry about sleep; problems with attention, concentration, or memory; extreme mood changes or
irritability; lack of energy or motivation; poor performance at school or work; and tension
headaches or stomach aches.
Insomnia can be grouped into primary and secondary, or comorbid, insomnia.[9][10][11]
Primary insomnia is a sleep disorder not attributable to a medical, psychiatric, or environmental
cause.[12] There are three main types of primary insomnia. These include: psychophysiological,
idiopathic insomnia, and sleep state misperception (paradoxical insomnia).[9] Psychophysiological
insomnia is anxiety-induced. Idiopathic insomnia generally begins in childhood and lasts the rest
of a person's life. It's suggested that idiopathic insomnia is a neurochemical problem in a part of
the brain that controls the sleep-wake cycle, resulting in either under-active sleep signals or over-
active wake signals. Sleep state misperception is diagnosed when people get enough sleep but
inaccurately perceive that their sleep is insufficient. [13][citation needed]
Secondary insomnia, or comorbid insomnia, occurs concurrently with other medical, neurological,
psychological and psychiatric conditions. Causation is not necessarily implied. [14]
Sleep is known to be cumulative. This means that the fatigue and sleep one lost as a result, for
example, staying awake all night, would be carried over to the following day. Not getting enough
sleep a couple days cumulatively builds up a deficiency and that's when all the symptoms of
sleep deprivation come in. When one is well rested and healthy, the body naturally spends not as
much time in the REM stage of sleep. The more time one's body spends in REM sleep, causes
one to be exhausted, less time in that stage will promote more energy when awakened. [15]

Sleep apnea[edit]
Main article: sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is often caused by collapse of the upper airway during sleep, which
reduces airflow to the lungs. Those who suffer from sleep apnea may experience symptoms such
as awakening gasping or choking, restless sleep, morning headaches, morning confusion or
irritability and restlessness. This disorder affects between 1 and 10 percent of Americans. [16] It
has many serious health outcomes if untreated. Positive airway pressure therapy using a CPAP
(Continuous positive airway pressure), APAP or BPAP devices is considered to be the first line
treatment option for sleep apnea. [17] Mandibular displacement devices in some cases can
reposition the jaw and tongue to prevent the airway from collapsing. For some patients
supplemental oxygen therapy may be indicated. Nasal problems such as a deviated septum will
shut down the airway and increase swelling in the mucus lining and nasal turbinates. Corrective
surgery (septoplasty) in some cases may be an appropriate choice of treatment.
Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the central nervous system to signal the body to
breathe during sleep. Treatments similar to obstructive sleep apnea may be used as well as
other treatments such as Adaptive Servo Ventilation and certain medications. Some medications
such as opioids may contribute to or cause central sleep apnea. [18]

Voluntary[edit]
Sleep deprivation can sometimes be self-imposed due to a lack of desire to sleep or the habitual
use of stimulant drugs. Sleep deprivation is also self-imposed to achieve personal fame in the
context of record-breaking stunts.

Mental illness[edit]
The specific causal relationships between sleep loss and effects on psychiatric disorders have
been most extensively studied in patients with mood disorders. [medical citation needed] Shifts into mania in
bipolar patients are often preceded by periods of insomnia,[19] and sleep deprivation has been
shown to induce a manic state in about 30% of patients. [20] Sleep deprivation may represent a
final common pathway in the genesis of mania, [21] and manic patients usually have a continuous
reduced need for sleep.[22]
The symptoms of sleep deprivation and those of schizophrenia are paralleled, including those of
positive and cognitive symptoms.[23]

School[edit]
See also: Sleep deprivation in higher education
The National Sleep Foundation cites a 1996 paper showing that college/university-aged students
got an average of less than 6 hours of sleep each night. [24] A 2018 study highlights the need for a
good night's sleep for students finding that college students who averaged eight hours of sleep
for the five nights of finals week scored higher on their final exams than those who didn't. [25]
In the study, 70.6% of students reported obtaining less than 8 hours of sleep, and up to 27% of
students may be at risk for at least one sleep disorder. [26] Sleep deprivation is common in first
year college students as they adjust to the stress and social activities of college life.
A study performed by the Department of Psychology at the National Chung Cheng University in
Taiwan concluded that freshmen received the least amount of sleep during the week. [27]
Studies of later start times in schools have consistently reported benefits to adolescent sleep,
health and learning using a wide variety of methodological approaches. In contrast, there are no
studies showing that early start times have any positive impact on sleep, health or learning.
[28]
 "Astronomical" data from international studies demonstrate that "synchronised" start times for
adolescents are far later than the start times in the overwhelming majority of educational
institutions.[29] In 1997, University of Minnesota research compared students who started school
at 7:15 am with those who started at 8:40 am. They found that students who started at 8:40 got
higher grades and more sleep on weekday nights than those who started earlier. [30] One in four
U.S. high school students admits to falling asleep in class at least once a week. [31]
It is known that during human adolescence, circadian rhythms and therefore sleep patterns
typically undergo marked changes. Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies indicate a 50%
reduction of deep (stage 4) sleep and a 75% reduction in the peak amplitude of delta waves
during NREM sleep in adolescence. School schedules are often incompatible with a
corresponding delay in sleep offset, leading to a less than optimal amount of sleep for the
majority of adolescents.[32]