Priske 1

Olivia Priske

Professor Flores

ENG 1201

14 November 2020

Literature Review

The question being considered for this literature review is: How has lack of sleep

impacted American life and productivity over the years? The focal point of this question is

researching the prominent effects that lack of sleep plays in American life. Considering aspects

like mood, health and well-being, and productivity; as outlets for supporting the claim being

made. Comparing how lack of sleep has evolved in modern day society through infrastructure

and advancements in technology will be another element of focus during research. My

overarching thesis is as follows: Lack of sleep in America is a public health epidemic, wreaking

havoc on Americans from ages 18-65, without action taken, individuals can expect their overall

health and weight to be compromised, along with their productivity. Luckily, the solution to this

epidemic is simple, reduce screen time, get the adequate amount of rest for your given age, and

try not to compensate for lack of sleep with long naps.

Lack of sleep has not always been considered a public health epidemic, in fact the

documentary titled Sleepless in America seems to point the figure at a rather unique culprit that

we can pin as the turning point to this global problem, being the invention of the lightbulb. As

the documentary states, “..most experts agree that the invention of the lightbulb was a central
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factor (in creating a sleepless society)” (Sleepless in America). This makes a lot of sense in the

grand scheme of things, since research shows that the circadian rhythm, our internal clock that

tells us when we are in need of sleep, is interrupted by artificial light used in modern day society.

Between computer screens and lamps, our bodies have begun to miss the natural sleep cycle that

the circadian rhythm would otherwise naturally promote. From there, a 24 hour society was born,

where people were able to work longer days thanks to power and light.

Sleepless in America is a credible source that we can count on, considering it was created

by National Geographic and it includes both the accounts of people who have been directly

affected by sleep deprivation, as well as sleep specialists and doctors and their perspective of

what sleep deprivation does to an individual in regard to their health and productivity. The

documentary itself tries to inform the public as to why they should be making sleep a priority in

their life based on health related information and first hand accounts of what could happen if the

general public continues to put sleep on the back burner in their life.

Throughout all the sources, the focal point being highlighted is lack of sleep's negative

impact on the overall health and productivity of America. As stated in I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M

DEAD IF THE LACK OF IT DOESN’T KILL ME FIRST!, “Less than 6–7h of sleep per night

severely compromises our immune system, more than doubling the risk of cancer!” (Clayton 25).

We can rely on the credibility of Clayton’s writing, since it directly states it sources and uses

medical related sites and professionals to back the claims being made within the information

being given. Similar to the National Geographic documentary, Clayton is trying to inform the

public of how much sleep they should be getting each night, as well as warning them as to what

negative impacts they can expect if sleep is not a priority in their life. This idea of health being

compromised due to lack of sleep is repeated again in the article titled The Hidden Ways Sleep
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Deprivation Can Lead To Weight Gain stating, “One reason you might pack on pounds when

you’re sleep deprived is because your body goes into survival mode. Sleeplessness can fool your

body into thinking you’re in danger” (Barnes). Again solidifying the claim that lack of sleep puts

the body in a compromised state. As the article highlights, you gain weight when you are sleep

deprived because your metabolism begins to slow down and conserve energy, thinking it may be

in trouble. Another point that seems to be recurrent throughout the sources that have been pulled,

is the ways in which Americans can combat sleep deprivation. As stated in the article by Barnes,

she suggests that Americans “Count seven and a half hours before the time you need to wake up,

says Breus. That’s your “lights out” time, which should ensure you’re getting enough sleep to

make your body wake itself up at the proper time (maybe even before an alarm goes off)”

(Barnes). Michael Breus has a PhD and is a sleep specialist. Making him a knowledgeable source

to guide people as to what their best course of action would be in maintaining a consistent and

healthy sleep schedule. Barnes article is trying to inform the public that a result of their weight

gain could easily coincide with poor sleeping habits. Barnes goes a step further and even informs

readers that if they have been struggling to reach a healthy weight, lack of sleep may be working

against them and their goal. According to the article titled CDC Declares Sleep Disorders a

Public Health Epidemic, lack of sleep attributes to more than just loss of productivity. As stated

in the article, “Increasingly, sleep disorders such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea are

placing those who suffer from these conditions and the public at large at greater risk of car

crashes, medical mistakes and industrial accidents” (Rodriguez). Meaning those that have sleep

disorders or suffer from recurring nights of lack of sleep are more likely to make monumental

mistakes. The article being from Advanced Sleep Medicine Services provides it’s audience with

critical information as to why lack of sleep is a problem with irreversible consequences when left
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unattended to. The article also allows readers to analyze the amount of sleep they need based on

their activity level during the day by providing readers with an online quiz component.

The main disagreement among sources in regard to sleep deprivation in America is the

amount of sleep the average adult person should be getting each night. In articles like the one

written by Paula Clayton, the author argues that the average adult needs more than 8 hours of

sleep. Stating, “Sleeping less than 6–7h per night severely compromises our immune system”

Whereas, the article by the Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, argues that adults should be

getting between 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Although these time frames are different, an hour

difference in the total amount of sleep an adult gets each night could make a tremendous

difference in their ability to be productive over time. As the paper unravels, it will be critical to

find a definite answer to how much sleep every person between the ages of 18-65 should be

aiming to achieve each night.

Common misconceptions centered around lack of sleep are plentiful, since we have seen

many argue that men and women can be fully functional off of 5 hours of sleep, the same way

that they would after 7 to 8 hours of sleep. The article titled Common Myths and Facts About

Sleep by The Sleep Foundation debunks this idea by stating, “Recommendations from a group of

experts commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation state that adults should get between

seven and nine hours of sleep per night3” (Suni). Another common misconception associated

with sleep is it doesn’t matter when you sleep as long as you are getting in enough hours.

However, looking at the same article from The Sleep Foundation, which is a medically reviewed

site, states the opposite. Saying, “Studies have demonstrated that the timing of sleep matters, and

it’s best to sleep as much as possible during hours of darkness. Sleeping at night helps align the

body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock, with its environment” (Suni). Again proving that
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circadian rhythm of the body takes a hit, when those that work late into the night or night shifts

interfere with the natural sleep cycle the body would take on without the invention of the

lightbulb that created the 24 hour society we live in today. The Sleep Foundation is working to

emphasize the importance of sleep and setting straight any common misconceptions American

people may have about sleep, it’s importance, and its impact on health and productivity.

Similarly, people may agree that sleep affects one’s mood since many people can relate

to being told they have “woken up on the wrong side of the bed” or they are being grouchy due

to lack of sleep. However, what many argue is mood and its effect on sleep. Many have not

considered that depression and anxiety also harbor negative effects on sleep. As stated in the

article Sleep and Mood by Epstein, “Not only does sleep affect mood, but mood and mental

states can also affect sleep. Anxiety increases agitation and arousal, which make it hard to sleep.

Stress also affects sleep by making the body aroused, awake, and alert. People who are under

constant stress or who have abnormally exaggerated responses to stress tend to have sleep

problems” (Epstein). This is an interesting dimension to sleep deprivation becoming a global

epidemic since mental health cases are rising across the nation, which may be attributing to

growth of this nation wide problem. The article by Epstein, looks to educate it’s audience on how

to best cope with sleep related issues, as well as prioritizing mental health in order to achieve

better sleep. The article details ways in which people can improve their mental health, thus

improving their quality of sleep. Along with listing the medical ways in which sleep affects our

mood.

In order to really gain a sense of the impact that lack of sleep has on Americans and their

productivity an effort to look into more personal accounts of exhaustion related accidents in

places of work need to be evaluated. The next step in the research process will be seeing how
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Americans are impacted in the workplace because of lack of sleep and more specifically how

does this lack of sleep begin to impact their ability to operate machinery like a car, plane, or

train. All of which are critical modes of transportation that allow us to be productive during the

day. Although the documentary Sleepless in America begins to touch on this idea, more

resources should be gathered to begin to answer the question of how sleeplessness impacts the

health and productivity of Americans. Thus far, it is safe to say that lack of sleep does have a

tremendous impact on your mood, health risks such as diabetes and weight gain, as well as

productivity and maintaining focus throughout the day. All of which take a hard hit, in a negative

way when sufficient sleep and the body’s circadian rhythm are interrupted due to lack of sleep or

when working night shift hours.

Works Cited

Barnes, Zahra. "The Hidden Ways Sleep Deprivation Can Lead To Weight Gain."

The Huffington Post 16 Apr. 2015, Huffpost Healthy Living sec. Web. 14

Nov. 2020.

Clayton, Paula. “I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD IF THE LACK OF IT DOESN’T

KILL ME FIRST!” Co-Kinetic Journal, no. 78, 2018, pp. 25–32. SPORT Discus,

eds-b-ebscohost-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?

vid=6&sid=41f79ff2-126a-48e3-a673-77aaca44843c%40pdc-v-sessmgr05.
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Epstein, Lawrence. "Sleep and Mood." Get Sleep. WGBH Educational

Foundation, 15 Dec. 2008. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.

<http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/need-sleep/whats-in-it-for-you/mood

>.

"Insufficient Sleep Is a Public Health Epidemic." Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Office of the Associate Director for Communication and Public

Affairs, 3 Sept. 2015. Web. 14 Nov. 2020.

Sleepless in America. Dir. John Hoffman. Perf. National Geographic. 2014. Film.

Suni, Eric. “Common Myths and Facts About Sleep.” Sleep Foundation, One Care

Media, 12 Nov. 2020, www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/myths-and-facts-about-

sleep.