Sleep is a basic human need, along with air, food, and water.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared sleep deprivation a public health emergency.
There are six key populations most impacted by sleep deprivation:
Employees
One-third of all adults and children in the U.S. do not get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation,
defined as sleeping less than 6 hours per night, is linked to anxiety, depression, diabetes, obesity,
dementia, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, injuries, and other serious conditions.According to medical
professionals, the average adult needs 7–9 hours of sleep per night.
Babies
Sleep deprivation impacts children in many ways. Sleep deprivation impacts brain
development, their mental health, their behavior and their academic performance.
Children who don’t get enough sleep may have smaller volumes of gray matter in areas
of the brain that control attention, memory, and inhibition. Sleep deprivation in children
can increase their risk of mental health problems like depression and anxiety. These
differences can persist for years.
Women
Sleep is essential to women’s physical, emotional, and hormonal health, yet many women are chronically sleep-deprived. Life responsibilities, caregiving, stress, hormonal shifts, and conditions like pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause can disrupt sleep patterns and deepen fatigue. Insufficient sleep is linked to higher risks of anxiety, depression, heart disease, weight gain, and weakened immunity in women. Prioritizing restorative sleep through consistent routines, stress management, and supportive environments is not a luxury for women—it is a critical foundation for wellbeing, resilience, and thriving.
Seniors
For seniors, sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of falls and accidents, along with the risk
of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s. Poor sleep can also worsen confusion, mood changes, attention problems, and
depression, potentially speeding the progression of dementia.
People with Chronic Diseases
Sleep deprivation worsens the symptoms of chronic diseases by disrupting the body’s natural
healing processes. It weakens immune function, increases inflammation, and exacerbates
conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and mental health disorders,
making them harder to manage. Poor sleep can further contribute to the progression of these
illnesses.
Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
Sleep is a strategic advantage for small business owners and entrepreneurs, yet it is frequently treated as expendable. Sleep is not idle. Sleep is vital. Building and sustaining a business requires mental clarity, emotional balance, and physical stamina, all of which are built during restorative sleep. When sleep is shortchanged, stress increases, problem-solving declines, and the risk of burnout rises, making it harder to lead effectively. Protecting sleep is not just self-care it is a powerful investment in more and sustainable success. Here is a picture for the small business box.
Sleep Research: A Partial List
1. The night gardeners: Immune cells rewire, repair brain while we sleep –
ScienceDaily, Oct 21, 2019
2. Getting good sleep could add years to your life – ScienceDaily, Feb 24, 2023
3. Sleep tight! Researchers identify the beneficial role of sleep – ScienceDaily, Mar 5,
2019
4. Blue light emitted by screens damages our sleep – ScienceDaily, Aug 22, 2017
5. Chronic sleep deprivation suppresses immune system – ScienceDaily, Jan 27, 2017
6. High-quality sleep promotes resilience to depression and anxiety – ScienceDaily, Jul
2023
7. Improving deep sleep may prevent dementia – ScienceDaily, Oct 30, 2023
