The Traveler

Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Larry Ash Sleep is a luxury many UA students feel they cannot afford. To stay awake to study or complete homework, students resort to energy drinks or caffeine pills.

For many college students, taking a full load of classes, studying, working, participating in extracurricular activities, and saving time for fun with friends and significant others doesn't leave much time to sleep.

Adults should average between seven to eight hours of sleep a night, according to WebMD. But 20 percent of college students suffer from sleep deprivation, according to Sleep-deprivation.com.

The researchers who conduct the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment survey concluded that 42 percent of their participants experienced excessive daytime sleepiness.

Sara Cousins, a UA junior biological engineering major from El Dorado, said she does not get enough sleep because she always has homework to complete.

"Our professors give us a ridiculous amount of homework," she said. "It's all important, but we don't have enough daytime to get it all done."

It is a well-known fact that not getting an adequate amount of sleep is harmful for the body, but just how bad is it?

Students who are sleep deprived can have more serious problems than drowsiness. Seizures, strokes and heart attacks are three of the more serious, long-term, possible consequences, according to the Covenant Sleep Center.

In a short time, sleep deprivation can cause irritability and exhaustion. A body without enough rest cannot operate properly. Consequently, students suffering from sleep deprivation will increase their food intake and not eat foods with nutritional value, according to the center.

Brian Wah, a senior biology major from Marion, said he always gets enough sleep and has never stayed up all night to study.

"All-nighters aren't worth it because the extra study time doesn't equate to higher grades," Wah said. "If you don't sleep, you won't do well in school."

To stay awake at night to study, Cousins said she consumes caffeine and energy drinks.

"I have to stay up and do my homework, and it's hard to stay up without using it," she said.

Although the Food and Drug Administration limits caffeine contents in soft drinks to 71 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces, there are no limits to energy drinks, according to WebMd.

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