Over 500 Facebook groups are devoted to sleep, yet, for being such a popular topic, many experts say most college students are not giving it the respect it deserves, especially with the end of the semester looming.
The level of stress is high. The self-care kind of goes down the drain,"" said Dennis Christoffersen, clinical director of University Health Services Counseling Services. ""People aren't eating right. They're cramming. They're staying up late, so their sleep-wake cycle gets screwed up. They may be overusing stimulants or caffeine to try to stay awake. It just really messes up their schedule.""
Other problems from sleep may stem from physical problems like insomnia.
UW-Madison senior Stacey Nathan said she has suffered from insomnia for as long as she can remember, but says her insomnia especially flares up at the end of semesters.
""This time of year you have so much to be worried about,"" Nathan said.
Eight hours of sleep has been the dose recommended by school nurses and medical websites for years, but those in the field, like Christofferson, say there is no ""magic number"" of hours of sleep to get a night.
Christoffersen said the amount of sleep needed varies from person to person, and the only way to figure out just how much sleep you need is by trial and error. To determine the amount of sleep you require, he suggested experimenting by sleeping for seven hours one night and seeing how you feel the next day. Repeat this until you find a minimum amount that allows you to make it through your day without feeling lethargic.
Lack of sleep can be more detrimental than you may think. Aside from feeling groggy, sleep loss contributes to many physical, mental and even academic issues.
""Research has shown that lack of sleep decreases your test-taking effectiveness by up to 25 percent,"" said Kellie Mack, a nurse practitioner at Wisconsin Sleep, a clinic devoted entirely to sleep, with faculty from UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. Mack also said lack of sleep for even just one night can have negative consequences.
UW-Madison sophomore Nick Roche said his sleep cycle has been ""screwed up"" since high school. Roche tends to get five to six hours of sleep per night, but rarely sleeps for five hours straight. Roche said he stays up past 3 a.m. many nights, and sleeps for a few hours before going to class. Once back from class, he said he makes up for his short night of sleep by napping.
Naps are a good resource, but only when used with caution. Take one for too long, and Christoffersen said you'll end up wasting time, feeling groggy and unable to sleep at night. He recommends taking short power naps for 20 to 30 minutes.
When students come to UHS complaining of sleep deprivation, Christoffersen said it is usually in combination with additional health problems, such as depression, anxiety issues, weight gain and problems with attention and concentration.
Though most sleep issues can be alleviated with over-the-counter drugs, many health services, including UHS, prefer to see if there is an alternative way to overcome insomnia. Most sleep aids are meant for short-term use because people often become psychologically dependent on them, and use them longer.
Nathan said she saw herself becoming dependent on the sleep medication Ambien during her sophomore year because she knew if she took it, she was guaranteed to have a good night's sleep. For someone who said she only sleeps five to six hours per night despite setting aside nine, Ambien presents a tempting option. Though she is not currently using any drugs to sleep, she admits she is not getting the best sleep of her life.
A balance is hard to come by.
""It's important to get sleep because it's hard to function without it,"" Nathan said. ""People can be overmedicated, but how do you tell what's more important?""
For those not directly affected by nightly bouts of insomnia, sleep may be misunderstood or undervalued in light of upcoming final projects and exams.
Though time is short as the impeding doom of finals approach, it is important, perhaps now more than ever, to pay attention to sleep health.
Mack has made a career out of sleep and insists that it is necessary to successfully complete exams.
""Your brain may be able to consolidate new information with the help of a full night sleep after studying and help you recall the info when you are taking the exam,"" she said.
