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The Causes And Effects Of Sleep Deprivation

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Today in 2017, 26-35% of American adults get a total of eight hours of sleep (Alic & Nienstedt, 2013). Sleep deprivation is a rising problem in college students today. 50% of college students report being sleepy on the day-to-day basis (Causes and Consequences, 2014). The average adult is supposed to be getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, while teenagers are recommended nine hours of sleep a night (Alic & Nienstedt, 2013). There are many causes of sleep deprivation which affects attention performance, learning and memory, mental health, and has several effects that can be prevented. There is always going to be something that comes up in life that causes people to set their sleep aside (Alic & Nienstedt, 2013). College students tend to stay up late finishing assignments and usually wake up early, the next morning (Causes and Consequences, 2014). Staying up late to finish homework is fine now and then, however, when students do it, they should accommodate for any amount of sleep they lost the night before (Alic & Nienstedt, 2013). Everyone has a Circadian System (internal clock), that runs based on the daylight around them, however, technology can throw this off from the light emitted from the screens. Not only can technology throw off our Circadian System, but caffeine can too. Caffeine can last up to five in a half to seven in a half hours after drinking it, of course, if people drink coffee after lunch or before bed it can throw off their Circadian System.

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