Lack of Sleep & Activities

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects your ability to perform everyday tasks. People with insomnia have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or experience a poor quality of sleep. Insomnia can occur on its own or as a secondary condition due to underlying medical conditions, such as depression, chronic pain or other sleep disorders. If you have trouble sleeping, you should know the effects of a lack of sleep on daily activities.

Physical Effects

• Perhaps the most obvious sign you are suffering from a lack of sleep are the physical signs and symptoms. People suffering from insomnia may have dark circles under their eyes, noticeable fatigue and difficulty carrying out daily tasks. Daytime sleepiness is another obvious symptom of insomnia and can be a danger to other people, such as falling asleep while driving a vehicle. People with sleep deprivation are also at a greater risk for other medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, depression and obesity. Tension headaches and stomachaches are also sometimes related to sleep deprivation.

Emotional Effects

• Lack of sleep can take a toll on your emotional health, resulting in unusual emotional outbursts, personality changes and a lack of concentration. You may find it difficult to participate in activities you used to enjoy due to tiredness and memory problems. People may notice the changes and tell you that you are more grumpy than usual. Family members often notice the signs of insomnia before others, because they know your usual behavior better than anyone else. Sleep deprivation can also contribute to anxiety and depression, resulting in a vicious cycle of irritability, mood changes and nights of unrefreshing sleep.

Job Performance

• Lack of sleep can greatly affect your ability to do the activities required for your job. When you are so tired that you have trouble fulfilling your job duties, other people will most likely notice. Those who are sleep deprived are at a higher risk of making mistakes on paperwork and often have low energy levels and memory problems. You may find yourself reaching for caffeine to get through the work day, but caffeine at the wrong time of day can contribute to more sleep problems at night. As a rule of thumb, avoid caffeine after lunchtime because caffeine stays in your system for up to eight hours. Poor work performance is just another reason to see your doctor if you are having difficulty sleeping.

Treatment

• In order to determine if you have insomnia, you must see a physician or sleep specialist for an examination. Certain medications, including thyroid medicine, cardiac drugs and anti-depressants can also cause sleep problems, so give your doctor a current list of your prescription and over-the-counter medications. Your physician will schedule an overnight sleep study, which measures the depth and quality of your sleep during a regular sleep cycle. Insomnia and other sleep disorders can be treated with changes in sleeping habits, behavioral therapy and medications.