Proper sleeping patterns allow the brain to process information and create memory
This is according to Dr Dominique Stott, Executive: Medical Standards and Services at PPS, who says that sleep deprivation is usually associated with an inability to process information, leading to poor judgement, insight and memory, as well as learning deficits.
“Sleep disorders are surprisingly common with most people having suffered from some form of sleep deprivation at some point in their lives. However, it is usually for a short duration lasting under a month.
"True insomnia is defined as repeated difficulty with either getting to sleep, staying asleep or poor sleep quality in spite of time and opportunity. This sleeping behaviour will eventually result in some form of health impairment.”
Dr Stott also advises that a lack of sleep can also cause other serious illnesses in people.
“Sleep deprivation can be either the cause or effect of psychiatric, neurological or physical disorders. There are also life circumstances that can lead to a lack of sleep, with associated depression and anxiety. These are commonly associated with major life events and stressors, such as divorce or bereavement, which can lead to temporary sleep deprivation.”
She points to a large-scale, multi-national study of sleep problems led by Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, which was conducted among eight countries in Asia and Africa. The study revealed that in South Africa, 31.3% of women and 27.2% of men report having a problem sleeping.
