Sleep Med Psychophysiol.
2003 Dec;10(2):77-83.
Effects of Chronic Insufficient Sleep on Society
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Industrialization has brought great changes in human life. Human sleep patterns have also been much influenced by industrialization and the invention of electricity and the light bulb. Insufficient sleep is a common problem with considerable health, social, and economical impacts on modern society. In this review, we will outline the present state of insufficient sleep in our society, especially catastrophic accidents related with chronic sleep insufficiency. We will discuss the effect of sleep deprivation on human performance by reviewing the literature. We will also emphasize the role of sleep specialists in this issue and highlight the areas in which the principles of sleep medicine can constructively improve public policy and public health.
