Sleep deprivation is becoming a growing challenge among people today. Most people have experienced sleep deprivation at least once, and it's becoming more common, especially among adults. Just like food and water, sleep is a biological need that our bodies need to function properly. With this in mind, let's look at the negative effects of lack of sleep on individuals and their productivity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay One of the major effects of lack of sleep, which is often overlooked, is that it can cause accidents. Some of the world's biggest disasters have been attributed to human error due to lack of sleep. From the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, lack of sleep has caused loss of life, destruction of property and environmental degradation. Furthermore, lack of sleep is the cause of a considerable number of road accidents, leading to a high number of deaths. Approximately 100,000 road accidents and 1,500 accident-related deaths can be attributed to driver fatigue (Peri par. 3). These figures are shocking given that most victims are young adults aged 25 or younger. In fact, nearly 20 percent of all traffic accidents in the United States are due to drivers' lack of sleep (Blass et al. 28). Additionally, workplace accidents are often caused by lack of sleep. Workers who have frequent workplace accidents cite lack of sleep as the main reason for these accidents. Productivity is also affected by lack of sleep. Lack of sleep leads to poor performance in the workplace and school. Children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep per day, while adults need 7 to 8 hours minimum (Blass et al. 28). Lack of sleep in school children can lead to poor grades, while adults can perform poorly at work. The body needs sleep to improve thinking and learning, and a lack of sleep or minimal sleep can inhibit these cognitive processes in many ways. People suffering from sleep deprivation are unable to reason properly, pay attention, concentrate, and stay alert (Peri par. 5). In fact, researchers compare doing simple activities while tired to doing them under the influence of alcohol. Activities like studying, driving, and working can be difficult for sleep-deprived people to perform properly. Additionally, lack of sleep leads to poor memory retention, making people forget quickly or take a long time to process simple information. Sleep is essential for the mind to store memories.Keep in mind: This is just a sample.Get a personalized article now from our expert writers.Get a personalized essaySleep Deprivation Over a Period prolonged causes depression. In fact, most people with depression and anxiety sleep six hours or less per night (Peri par. 11). Insomnia (a common sleep disorder) is usually the first symptom of depression, and the majority of those who suffer from it become depressed at some point. Insomnia and depression are closely related in the sense that insomnia can cause its victims to suffer from depression, and those who are depressed tend to be sleep deprived. However, even though insomnia is attributed to depression, treating this disorder can help,.