Insufficient sleep syndrome may result from poor choices like staying up to finish a movie, scrolling through your phone in bed, and reading a book right before you plan to go to sleep. This habit of not getting enough rest can be often unnoticed as the body fails to recognize the need for an extra hour of shut-eye.
Missing out on rest caused by obligations such as work, school or domestic duties can accumulate into a sleep debt. Whilst attempting to regain lost slumber on weekends is beneficial, it often isn't enough to fully compensate for the lack of sleep during the week.
The consequence of this is a lack of sleep, preventing you from feeling excited and fully rejuvenated during the day.
Symptoms
Individuals with insufficient sleep syndrome may be noted by family or friends as needing more rest than they are getting, and symptoms may improve when a longer period of sleep is obtained. Additionally, the person may not have other medical or sleep disorders that could be causing their issues with fatigue, distractibility, irritability, reduced alertness, lowered energy level and difficulty focusing.
What are the Risks
Approximately two percent of individuals seeking assistance at a sleep center are victims of insufficient sleep syndrome. The condition often goes unnoticed until they reach their 40s, though it typically begins during the mid-to-late 30s period. Additionally, the disorder appears in slightly more men than women. In essence, this is behaviorally based and occurs when individuals put off bedtime thus obstructing themselves from obtaining the suggested 7-9 hours of restful sleep.
What to do
If you experience daytime sleepiness, even when getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night, be sure to consult your medical provider. They will require information about your medical background and may be able to identify common sleep problems such as sleep apnea. In some cases, they might recommend you visit a sleep specialist.