Do you believe that Insomnia/Poor Sleep is dangerous to our health?  

I always try to get enough sleep. Usually I go to bed late at nights; however, I sleep in the day if I have to wake up early. I think sleep is very important for our health, especially mental health. I got to sleep deprivation periods and in both times I got a mental crisis.

I love soda, so living without caffeine seems like a challenge, but if it helps me sleep, I'll do it. The problem isn't caffeine, though. In fact, caffeine can help you sleep.

As for my sleeping problems, they're obviously just due to me not being in rhythm with the night/day balance. You see, I can sleep a good 6-8 hours if I sleep through the morning. However, I have trouble sleeping from 10pm to 4am.

I don't know that it is so dangerous to your health as an indication that you have health problems that are causing it. I can get off to sleep OK, but I wake up at ridiculous times - 3, 4 in the morning, and cannot get back to sleep. Last year I had a heart attack - after the event my doctor indicated that the insomnia may have been a warning sign. Fully recovered from the heart problem, the insomnia is now back!

For effective functioning of brain and body, a person requires eight hours of sleep each day, and if the four stages of sleep are incomplete, brain and body are not fit for next day chores. Insomnia makes the person very fatigued, tired, with reduced level of energy, and slowed down reflexes. Insomnia also leads to reduced productivity at work as it makes the person cranky and irritable which can be disastrous for personal and professional relationships. Person suffering from insomnia finds it extremely difficult to perform even the simple chores of daily life.

Dizzy spells, lack of attention and changes in mood are some of the other side-effects caused by the sleepless nights. Throughout the day, brain is exposed to a lot of information, and during sleep, brain processes, discards and stores the data. In addition to changes in the personality, insomniac also suffers from several psychological problems. For a person suffering from insomnia, operating machinery and driving can be very dangerous.

Depression is another common effect of insomnia, and vice-versa is also true. Depression can often lead to hopelessness, and suicidal tendencies, hence it is advisable to consult the doctor. Insomnia can also affect the appearance of a person, because due to lack of sleep, the repair and growth of the body is not sufficient, affecting the appearance and self-esteem of a person. Insomnia affects metabolic, cardiovascular, nervous and immune system of a body.