Most students would agree that it seems as though daylightsaving did not take place this past weekend.
Instead of looking at the \spring ahead, fall back"" quote as an opportunity to catch up on some much-desired sleep, some of us chose to think of it as an extra hour of drinking.
But is it actually possible for us to really ""catch up"" on sleep?
Students are positive their decision to pull off that all-nighter was a certainly a good one. It doesn't matter that the essay was assigned two weeks ago, only that it was completed on time. Students continually use excuses like, ""I work better under pressure,"" or ""I'll sleep in on Saturday to make up for it.""
Unfortunately, most don't realize that the consequences of sleep deprivation can severely threaten their well-being.
Health problems
Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that can put people at risk for many health problems. One major concern doctors have regarding sleep deprivation is the effect it has on our bodies. According to Consumer Reports on Health, physiological studies have shown that sleep deprivation can cause three potentially harmful immune system changes. When a person does not get enough rest, he increases the risk of developing diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
UW-Madison freshman Bailey Blanke thought she would be able to handle an early class schedule considering how early she had to get up for high school.
""College life is obviously completely different,"" she said. ""It's almost impossible for any student to get a full night's rest due to the amount of homework that we are given. If I don't get a decent amount of sleep each night, I am exhausted throughout the day and I find myself falling asleep in class.""
A lack of rest can also reduce growth hormone levels that help to regulate our body weight. Without these hormones, our hunger cannot be controlled, thus leading to a gain in weight. Sleep deprivation can also cause an increase in immune-system activity which can lead to inflamed and damaged arteries.
Academic performance
Numerous studies have been conducted to prove that sleep deprivation can be a cause of poor academic performance. Without an adequate amount of rest, the brain's ability to function weakens. According to Counseling Psychology Quarterly, people who have difficulty sleeping may actually be affecting their creative thought processes.
Due to the brain's lowered speed process, imaginative thoughts are somewhat halted.
UW-Madison political science Professor Howard Schweber said that particularly in small classes it is easy to point out the students who are suffering from a lack of sleep.
""When an instructor has an opportunity to hear a student speak at some length it is terribly obvious to notice a deprivation of sleep,"" he said. ""I would suggest that each hour fewer than eight hours of sleep the night before translates to a loss of 10 IQ points.""
UW-Madison freshman Brian Cho admits to burning the midnight oil in order to complete his homework and study for exams.
""There have been a few times that I found myself pulling all-nighters and its certainly had a major impact on my ability to function,"" he said.
Counseling Psychology Quarterly also suggests that sleep is directly associated with learning and memory. In a closer examination, it has been proven that the last half of a full night's resting period is the most important in the learning process.
The March 2001 issue of College Student Journal hypothesized that short sleepers have reported significantly lower grade point averages. The results of a recent study have supported their hypothesis by proving that longer sleepers have an overall higher functioning level than do shorter sleepers.
Maybe it's time to think about starting those assignments a little earlier next time so you don't have to stay up so late. Not getting an adequate amount of sleep can actually make you worse-off in the long run. Remember the words of Joseph Cossman who once said, ""The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's rest.""
-www.sleepfoundation.org contributed to this report.
