Whether it’s to maintain a competitive advantage on the job or party till the crack of dawn, we’re squeezing every moment of wakefulness out of our lives at the expense of sleep.
That’s a bad idea. The simple truth is that sleep is an important biological function that does more than provide us with an opportunity to dream about future riches. While experts still aren’t exactly sure what sleep does, it’s widely believed to be instrumental in recharging our batteries and giving our many bodily systems a chance to rest for optimal performance during periods of wakefulness. Cheating sleep, while it sounds like something that’s OK to do every once in a while, can take a serious toll on our health if we do it too often.
One study, led by Eve Van Cauter at the University of Chicago, has shown that inadequate sleep may prompt the development of insulin resistance (IR). IR is a condition in which the body doesn’t properly respond to the insulin hormone that’s critical in regulating our blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance is a well-known risk for diabetes and could be involved in other related metabolic problems such as high blood pressure, abnormal lipid levels and obesity.
Sleepiness, however, isn’t always a result of the lifestyle choices that we make. As many as 1 in 5,000 Americans suffer from excessive sleepiness that’s no fault of their own. They are narcoleptics who constantly battle a disabling neurological disorder of sleep regulation that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. Narcoleptics rarely get sound sleep as their nightly rest is disturbed by tossing and turning in bed, leg jerks, nightmares, and frequent awakenings. Because their nighttime sleep routine is so poor, they spend most of the day battling drowsiness and nodding off even in the middle of conversations.
Many narcoleptics are now singing the praises of a drug called modafinil, sold under the trade name Provigil. Specifically approved three years ago for the treatment of narcolepsy, researchers are now asking whether this drug can be used for other conditions such as sleep apnea or a type of sleep disorder found in shift workers. The advantage of this new drug over the older stimulants is that it specifically targets the hypothalamus, the small area of the brain that houses our sleep center. Unlike the amphetamine-like stimulants, it doesn’t leave users feeling jittery or fatigued once the arousal effect has worn off.
Modafinil, like any other drug, does have its side effects, but they’re considered to be relatively minimal. The most commonly reported are headache, nausea, and a runny nose. This drug has been used in Europe much longer than in the U.S., and experts claim that there has been little-if any-reporting of addictive behaviors or abuse.
This, however, may be a mixed blessing. Many researchers are now discussing whether a new generation of drugs will be developed that can double and even triple the time we spend awake without causing harm.
The U.S. Army has already conducted studies on Blackhawk helicopter pilots to test whether performance can be maintained with increased wakefulness. There have also been reports of other studies conducted on military operatives examining the potential of longer consecutive hours of productivity to carry out certain missions. But where will this stop? And what will it mean for our traditional sleep patterns? Some don’t think it’s a bad idea to have soldiers who can fight for a week straight and never lose their mental or physical toughness. College students would likely be thrilled to have a drug with little addictive quality or side effects that can keep them awake for several days at a time during exam period.
As more companies continue to develop newer classes of medications, the concept of how we manage our sleep will inevitably be altered. Sleep experts believe this could be a serious mistake. Regardless of how effective and safe these newer medications might be, there’s a biologic fundamental that can’t be altered. The body needs sleep, between five and ten hours a night in most cases, and anything that alters this physiologic function will ultimately take a toll. You might be able to work into the wee hours of the morning or party till the sun comes up, but no fancy medication or ancient herb can fool the body and prevent the potential health consequences that come from not getting enough of those zzzzzs.
