What are the dangers of sleep deprivation?
Sleep deprivation is no small problem. It leads to a diminishing of natural alertness, which can lead to small or larger accidents, the most dangerously being traffic accidents. In the United States alone, it is estimated that there are around 100,000 sleep-related traffic crashes annually, resulting in around 1500 deaths. In a recent version of the popular television series, Gray’s Anatomy, a surgical intern in a hospital, has a tragic accident with a pregnant woman. Although fictional, the huge number of hours clocked by interns in hospitals is commonly known. In this instance, the intern points out the futility of saving a life in surgery while taking one on the road, due to sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation drains you of your natural energy and alertness and makes you subject to mood distortions. In such a state, the slightest stressful situation can become grievously magnified, leading to distortions of perception and mistakes in judgment. There are multiple reasons for sleep d
