Medical Professionals and Malpractice: The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation

American Thinker.com ^ | July 14, 2019 | John Glynn

[Kaslin]

In the words of the acclaimed writer JoJo Jensen, “Without enough sleep, we all become tall two-year-olds.”

Many scientists have pondered the question of why sleep is of such vital importance. From an evolutionary perspective, it would be ideal if we could survive without sleep. After all, shut-eye leaves animals, including humans, vulnerable to predation.

If you travel quite frequently, you’ve probably succumbed to “first night effect,” or FNE. In simple terms, this means that many humans tend to have a difficult time sleeping during the first night in a new place. According to numerous evolutionary theorists, this reveals something interesting about the ways in which our brains function. FNE, they argue, is an evolutionary remnant rooted in our brains’ hardwired self-defense mechanisms. We sleep with “one eye open,” quite literally. It’s known as the unihemispheric effect. In new environments, we employ a 50/50 sleep system, where one half of the brain sleeps and the other half stays alert. We are on guard, primed to expect disturbances.

Why is sleep so important?

Scientists think sleep is important for two reasons. First, sleep helps repair and restore our organ systems. This includes “cleansing” our muscles, immune systems, and brains. A function of sleep is to flush metabolic byproducts and toxins from the brain -- including the beta-amyloid plaques that accumulate in cases of dementia.

Furthermore, sleep plays a critical role in memory, especially retention and consolidation. Although there is still a lot that we don’t know about the potential benefits of sleep, one thing is for sure: we simply can’t survive without it. Think about it, readers, we spend about a third of our lives sleeping -- so it must serve a function of real significance.

[Mom MD]

no. i was usually fine at work but the drive home was another story. radio loud windows open etc... i only had 2 near misses. Once i woke up at a green light with a very irate person leaning on the horn behind me. The other time i woke up half way into the next lane. Fortunately the lane was not occupied at the time and the adrenaline rush kept me wide awake til I pulled in my driveway. Gods grace was with me those couple years of driving exhausted. There is no other explanation

[Chickensoup]

“feelings” will not save lives when the rubber meets the road

___________

tell me.

[mountainfolk]

I read about the downside of Tylenol re liver and it seems that overuse can damage the liver. The common use of OTC drugs, in the area we are talking about, that I am aware of, which have possible bad effects , are aspirin and Ibuprofen and Tylenol overuse. I am allergic to aspirin and am sure others are likewise not able to take some of the simple medications. Some pain pills interfere with serious medications so everything we medicate for needs to be OK with our doctors.

[PeterPrinciple]

From an evolutionary perspective, it would be ideal if we could survive without sleep. After all, shut-eye leaves animals, including humans, vulnerable to predation.

---

So why are we not all extinct?

From a philosophical perspective, why would God require all creatures to sleep? God shortened the lifespan of mankind to limit the amount of evil done in a life time. I suspect sleep keeps us from doing evil 24/7.

[Rembrandt]

There used to be available a fabulous sleeping aid called “Ambien.” It was made unavailable during the Obama administration. Mfr prob didn’t contribute enough. I would fly LAX to BKK taking an Ambien en route and arrive fresh, then another Ambien on the first night followed by Tylenol PM for 6 - 7 nights. At that point I’d be over the time change, tired but converted.

[Wonder Warthog]

"One purpose of an internship in medicine is to harden the trainee to sleep deprivation, and still do what has to be done. The PTSD that is a consequence, will be with them for the rest of their lives, and colors their relationships with others permanently. I trained at Charity Hospital in NO."

Yeah, that "is" the propaganda line. The real reason is to wash out as many candidates as possible in order to keep the number of doctors small and wages high, and the human consequences be damned.

Same as the artificially high academic standard requirements in courses not necessary for expertise in medicine. I watched that happen to many pre-meds..."aced the medical stuff like comparative anatomy, but got a "C" in physics? no med school for you".

You are as much a victim as those who got washed out. I feel for your time at Charity in NO (I am from Louisiana and "get it" about the "uncaring violence).

[Lurker]

“There used to be available a fabulous sleeping aid called “Ambien.”

Still available as a generic. And it works when used properly.

L

[HangnJudge]

...I feel for your time at Charity in NO

The year before mine, 3/4 interns quit in the program I was entering into
The one remaining intern was... damaged by the training
We became partners and I watched the consequences over the decades

Big Charity... I still have intrusive nightmares
I didn’t begin to be able to see that it was
Possible to Love and Care, until after I left
Even now, 33yrs later, I see through darkened glasses dimly

It is a struggle, daily, to turn my eyes upon Jesus
And yearn for healing
I live in Hope...

[dangerdoc]

I advise techniques hoping they will help someone else but they do not reliably help me.

Last night I used my transcranial stimulator. Took unisom, nortriptyline, melatonin and valarian root and laid down in a quiet room. I counted my pulse and did visualization exercises for about two hours,gave up, took an Ambien and feel asleep about an hour later, woke up an hour before my alarm, another day with 4 hours of sleep.

[Chickensoup]

Mind racing?

[dangerdoc]

Nope, just can’t transition from wake to sleep. Never was good at it, even as a child, getting worse as I get older. Someday I’ll be that old man on the floor calling for help all night.