By Diego Olivares
As East Los Angeles College students begin the second-half of this semester, they feel more pressure, for multi reasons.
Many students are behind and have to work harder to catch up with their school work. Others feel they must study hard to get top grades.
Much of this could take up a person’s time. Additionally, students could have personal commitments.
These include work, relationships and family commitments. This results in students losing something important: sleep.
Sleep deprivation is a common issue college students face. One that could have very serious effects.
According to a Brown University study, sleep deprivation can result in a weakened immune system, distorted mental health, and dysfunctional sleep patterns.
The study also states that over 73 percent of college students have sleep issues. Only 11 percent are able to get healthy sleep.
This is a serious problem college students face on a daily basis and hits personally for many.
As a college student myself, I too suffer from sleep disorders.
My problems include irregular sleep patterns, as well as lack of sleep. At one point, I had less than an hour of sleep before a job orientation.
Memory is affected as well. There were moments that I had a hard time recalling recent events.
It makes school and work difficult due to exhaustion. One day at my job, I was working so slowly it nearly got me into trouble.
All this being due to sleep deprivation.
These problems can come from high internal anxiety.
Internet addiction is another cause for my sleep deprivation. I find myself sleeping less because I spend the night needlessly surfing the web.
Few students also suffer the same symptoms as I do. However, many may have more severe sleep disorders such as insomnia.
Sleep deprivation could have deadlyeffects. Anyone driving with little sleep is a lethal combination.
Lack of sleep while driving results in car accidents. Research shows that this could be as dangerous as driving under the influence.
College students who suffer sleeping disorders wonder about overcoming them. Luckily, there are ways to get through much of this.
According to the study, students should try to readjust their sleeping pattern. It’ll take some time, but usually it will come back.
People suffering from sleeping disorders should not take long naps, as long naps affect the sleeping patterns.
Workouts are also effective as they keep the body active. Students try to workout daily.
If people still have sleeping problems, they should inform their doctor and avoid caffeine and other sugar-related, high energy substances as well.
While the second half of the semester is challenging, students shouldn’t let it affect their sleep.
Life can be overwhelming, but students still need to make time for sleep.