Another good reason to get your ZZZs…

Have you ever had that feeling when you're short on sleep that you just aren't yourself? It turns out that's really not so far from the truth.

New research shows that after losing just one night of sleep, the brain's function begins to change. Most of the brain activity moves from the rational area to the brain's fear center.

A person who has been awake for 36 hours straight deals with input much differently than someone who has slept. That goes without saying. But with this new research it is more clear why. A sleep-deprived person is functioning on a more primitive level than someone who is rested.

One of the primary changes is that your flight or fight reflex is more sensitive when you haven't slept. This means that small things that you would normally cope with or not notice may cause you a great deal of stress. It makes you more emotional and may impair your judgement.

Researchers haven't yet tested if the same changes occur in someone who gets some sleep, but less than the optimum amount, for several nights in a row.

Either way, one thing is certain—losing sleep is a bad idea.

Stay rested,
Danny Wallace