Adults who regularly sleep fewer than 6hrs per night may have a four times greater risk of stroke symptoms
6hrs of sleep or less per night can increase the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin and limit leptin, which helps balance food intake
People who sleep for 6hrs or less each night and have problems staying asleep can have a 48% higher risk of developing or dying from heart disease
The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear accident have all been attributed to human error with sleep deprivation playing a role
17hrs of sustained wakefulness can lead to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.05% (two glasses of wine)
Reduction of sleep by only 1.5hrs per night for only one night can result in a reduction of daytime alertness by 32%
Many of the skills expected of leaders (executive functions) are impaired by sleep loss •High level decision making and flexible thinking •Communication skills •Ability to grasp a changing situation •Novel solution generation •Lateral thinking and innovation