Crazy Sleep Facts
#15 Sleep Deprivation
Studies show that people between 18 to 24 years-old are affected stronger from sleep deprivation than adults and show significant performance decrease. This makes us ask the question why is it that most of our education and nightlife goes on during exactly this period. At least you have a scientific excuse why you failed your college exams.
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15:
Sleep Deprivation
Studies show that people between 18 to 24 years-old are affected stronger from sleep deprivation than adults and show significant performance decrease. This makes us ask the question why is it that most of our education and nightlife goes on during exactly this period. At least you have a scientific excuse why you failed your college exams.
14:
Traffic accidents
You all know that time of the year when clocks are turned back at the end of the day and you are blessed with one more hour of sleep. Well the "crazy sleep fact" here is that on the following day traffic accidents have radically reduced. The lesson from this is to always have a good night sleep before driving. The extra hour of sleep received when clocks are turned back at the end of daylight saving time has been found to coincide with a fall in the number of road accidents.
13:
Victorian laziness
During the Victorian era, when artificial light was not yet invented, people used to sleep for around 10 hours a night. How much did you sleep last night...?
12:
Moody women
Recent studies have discovered that women need one more hour of sleep per night than man do. This constant sleep deprivation may be the reason why most women are emotionally unstable.
11:
Sleep needs
Teenagers need a minimum of 10 hours sleep per night (as much as small children), while elders need only 6. So the next time when your parents tell you that you are lazy, simply show them some scientific data.
10:
Snoring
Around 10% of the snorers have a condition called sleep apnea. During sleep apnea the person will seize to breath for short times during his sleep. This may occur over 300 times over a single night. Sleep apnea carries heart risks so if you snore you should better get checked out.
9:
Half brainers
Many animals (ducks, dolphins) need to stay awake all the time as they have to protect themselves from predators. Some of them have developed a sleep mechanism which allows them to be half asleep and half awake, by shutting down only one half of their brain at a time.
8:
Heat
High temperatures may cause insomnia as body temperature and the brain's sleep-wake cycle are closely linked. So if you have troubles falling asleep you should, perhaps, open the window.
7:
Light
Even the smallest light coming from a watch or a phone may be enough to disrupt your sleep cycles. Light triggers the production of "wake" chemicals and as a result your sleep quality suffers.
6:
Sleep Deprivation = Alcohol
Being sleep deprived has effects equivalent to these of being drunk. Seventeen hours without sleep leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol-level of 0.05%.
5:
REM sleep
REM sleep grows your brain. The more REM the more new neurones are integrated into your brain.
4:
REM Dreams
During REM sleep your dreams are much more bizarre and confusing than during your non-REM sleep when your dreams are repetitive with less images.
3:
Baby
If you have a newborn baby you will lose around 400 to 750 of sleep during that year. And as we saw earlier lack of sleep leads to traffic accidents. This make us reach the conclusion that babies cause traffic accidents. Which means that babies are evil!
2:
Insomnia
The longest period without sleep that has been recorded is 18 days, 21 hours and 40 minutes. The record holder reported hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech and memory and concentration lapses.
1:
Knee
A 1998 sleep study found out that by lighting the back of your knee you can reset your brain's sleep-wake clock. However, it is still not known why and how this happens.
