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Picture this. Something is wrong and you're not quite sure what it could be. You're concerned because you have a plethora of symptoms that seem severe or alarming. You are experiencing:

*Aching muscles
*Blurred vision
*Clinical depression
*Color blindness
*You're sleepy during the day and need naps
*Dizziness
*You look like Rocky Raccoon - dark circles under your eyes

*Confusion; also your speech is slurred at times, like you were high or intoxicated even though you're not
*On the other hand you seem to have developed Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
*You feel weak and may have even fainted or have begun having hallucinations and experiencing psychosis
*You have headaches and hand tremors; you've become short tempered and impatient

Then, WHAM you discover you have developed hypertension and cardiovascular problems.

So, what in the heck could be wrong with you? Did you ever consider sleep deprivation? Yes, I said sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is more than missing a couple of hours of sleep once in a while. I like the way Wikipedia defines sleep deprivation as a general lack of necessary sleep. That's in layman's terms...right where we need it. Depriving of sleep can arise from any set of circumstance including sleep disorders, stress, lifestyle changes, health problems and even torture.

The fact sleep deprivation has been used as torture for decades is a strong statement to the effects lack of sleep has on the body and mind. Some POWs described this type of torture as being worse than being deprived of food and water. This torture is accomplished by forcing the prisoner to stay awake for several days on end, then allowing them to sleep for a few precious moments only to arouse them out of sleep to start the process all over again. I can imagine why this type of torture would lead to physical and mental breakdown.

Sleep is our body's way of healing, restoring, mending, rebuilding and renewing. On average humans need about eight hours of sleep. Some lucky souls can get by on five to six hour daily. If your body is deprived of necessary sleep, then you begin to rack up a deficit or sleep debt that over time you can't recoup. Sleep helps us maintain a healthy immune system, promotes proper wound healing and keeps our brain functioning properly. New brain cells are actually created when we sleep. Besides the physical problems lack of sleep can cause, recent studies have indicated there could be a link between sleep deprivation and obesity.

So what happens

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