Loss of sleep has vastly become widespread in humans on the fast track. Lifestyles are filled with activities, and as a result, sleep has lost some of its importance.

Sleep deprivation is caused from many different routines in everyday. School, driving, interaction with others and other venues in life are effects as a cause of lack of sleep. In the long run students can even have problems with their health and well-being.

Many can succumb to insomnia and have restless sleep causing problems for their daily life. Katrina Stevenson, ?06, experienced a massive amount of insomnia for two months and what sleep she got was restless.

?You don?t realize how bad it is until you get a good nights rest and realize what it feels like to sleep again,? Stevenson said. ?Being sleep deprived gets to a point where you are dragging through the day.?

Sleep loss can become a problem among teenagers and may even get worse over time.

?I only get about six hours of sleep; I definitely don?t get enough,? Corinne Pogue, ?06, said. ?Lack of sleep affects my ability to think fast which causes me to struggle sometimes.?

According to Dr. James Minton of Fresno Community Help Providers, judgment, coordination, reflex time and even a cause of accidents are all impaired from lack of sleep. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder where people stop breathing in the night. It is the most common among sleep deprived and is related to weight.

?There are four stages of non-REM sleep and one final stage of REM sleep which is the dream stage,? Dr. Minton said. ?Most sleep deprived people don?t make it to REM stage of sleep.?

This sleep cycle has become a routine for many whose rest has been catered to their busy lifestyles.

?Sometimes I?ll catch myself drifting off in class and it has started to affect my grades in school,? Elizabeth Mendrin, ?07, said. ?The way I sleep has become such a habit and habit are hard to break so there is not much I can do to get a normal nights rest.?

There are many options to help break this sleep habit, some are keeping regular hours, getting a healthy nutritional diet, and trying to stay away from caffeine and other stimulants. Also getting to bed on time does help.

?I go to bed at 10 P.M. and then get up at 7:15 A.M.,? Stephan Willems, ?08, said. ?Usually right when I get up I?m a little tired still but after that I feel very refreshed.?

For more information on sleep deprivation, go to www.sleepnet.com/depriv.htm