The Idea of an Essay, Volume 2

146 . and increased kick strokes by 5 kicks” (Bracko). These findings reveal the direct relationship between sleep performance in not just sports, but also the physical activities associated with everyday living. Moreover, sleep’s effect on performance may lie in direct relation to the impact it has on the internal body systems. In the Sleep Disorders Sourcebook, Sandra Judd explains that sleep affects the endocrine system, the renal system, and the digestive system (9-10). The impact on and regulation of all of these systems ultimately alters the functioning of the entire body. One such example, according to Gerard Lombardo, M.D., in his book Sleep to Save Your Life, states, “Tissue cells, which are worn out during the normal wear and tear of living, need sleep to repair themselves” (22). For instance, during sleep, the pituitary gland secretes a substance known as the growth hormone, which promotes the growth and repair of tissue (Epstein and Mardon 16). Therefore, such a seemingly simple task as sleep represents an incredibly complex period in the day during which people unconsciously carry on the diligent work involved in maintaining life. Inadequate sleep, on the other hand, deprives a person of the above-mentioned restorative properties and the associated impacts they have on the body. According to the article “Healthy Sleep” by Harvard Medical, “A sleep-deprived person cannot focus attention optimally and therefore cannot learn efficiently.” This inability ultimately limits the productivity of a person throughout the day, in studying, in performing, or even merely in holding conversations. Not only does lack of sleep lead to drowsiness throughout the day, but it also denies an individual the opportunity he or she needs to process the information and experiences of the day. As previously mentioned, such processing time is the enabling factor in learning and growth. Another study from Sleep to Save Your Life states, “Tests conducted at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland, show that physical and thinking ability diminishes an average of 25 percent for every 24 hours without sleep” (26). This finding reveals that sleep deprivation hinders both mental and physical competence. Scientists have further supported these findings in studies involving lab rats. Lombardo says that these rats “survive only about five weeks on average when they don’t get any