“Chronic sleep deprivation is widely considered a side effect of living in a 24/7 society. It’s even documented that people living in industrialized nations get about an hour less sleep a night than they did 40 years ago. But until recently, people generally considered the effects of such sleep to be inconsequential.

“If only. A study last summer showed how, contrary to common wisdom, our bodies can’t make up for chronic sleep loss. The authors suggested that the accumulated deficit did more than just make people feel a little tired or short-tempered. Chronic sleep loss of even two to three hours per night held the potential to hamper body and mind functioning, not to mention quality of life.”

The article goes on to list several serious consequences of sleep deprivation.

Yawn. I think I need more naps….