Sleep Shortage.

Diana Gant, a professor in the Psychology Department, says that most people need nine to 10 hours of sleep each night to perform optimally; however, most people only receive about seven hours.

Gant, who has been in the department for 17 years, began studying sleep when she was a graduate student, and has followed it ever since. She found interest in sleep when she began running laboratory tests about the effect of sleep deprivation.

Gant believes some people think that going without sleep is the big, sophisticated, macho thing to do, and that they don't really need it. It might work for awhile, but then you will begin suffering the consequences.

"Think of sleep like exercise. People exercise because it's healthy, sleep is healthy," Gant states.

The lack of sleep makes you unhappy or even gives you a drunken feeling, so it's not safe to drive. You know if you aren't getting enough sleep if you are dozing off after you eat a large lunch. You also may get depressed after awhile.

Gant has looked into a lot of major disasters to discover whether sleep deprivation was a factor or not, such as the space shuttle Challenger, the accident at Russia's Chernobyl nuclear reactor and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The element of sleeplessness was involved in all of them.

If you aren't getting enough sleep some things you can do are find a dark and quiet room. Shut off all the lights and shut the shades. Another thing, relax for an hour or so before going to bed. Don't drink or eat a lot. Your room should be cool, about 65 degrees is best for sleep. Avoid tobacco, coffee, alcohol, and chocolate. Finally, get a comfortable bed, and keep your bed linens clean and fresh.