Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep

Headaches are just one of the many effects of poor sleep.

How do you know if you’re getting the sleep you need? Sleep deprivation occurs when you are not sleeping the right amount for your individual needs. Sometimes sleep deprivation is short term, like a college student pulling an all nighter for exams. Chronic sleep deprivation often occurs in professions who work long hours, caregivers with multiple responsibilities, a concurrent sleep disorder or another disease that interferes with sleep.

Signs you may be suffering from sleep deprivation include:
1) You need an alarm clock to wake up.
2) You sleep longer and better on weekends.
3) You have trouble getting out of bed in the morning.
4) You feel tired during the day.
5) You have bags or dark circles under your eyes.
6) You doze off while sitting in a public place, such as a movie theatre or meeting.
7) You doze off while driving.
8) You have trouble concentrating.
9) You have early morning headaches.

If you notice any of these signs, you may not be getting enough sleep. Try to gradually increase the amount of sleep you get each night until you find the right amount - you’ll know that you’ve got it when these signs start to go away. If you haven’t been getting enough sleep for a long time, it may take a while to recover. If you’ve tried everything and still have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, talk to your doctor. You may have a sleep disorder. Sleep deprivation can be dangerous not only to you but others, since it affects motor skills like driving. Chronic sleep deprivation is also thought to cause long term changes to the body, which contribute to increased risk for obesity, diabetes and heart disease.