We’ve all done it before. You have so much to do and so many things to take care of that even though you need to get up early the next day, you end up staying up late the night before. Staying up late once in a blue moon is okay, but a problem occurs when getting less than enough sleep becomes a regular event. Once the “sleep debt” begins accumulating, you will suffer more and more each day from sleep deprivation.

Especially in today’s busy world, many people find themselves skimping on sleep to get more done. From college students to career-oriented adults, millions of people have found that by sleeping five hours a night instead of eight they can squeeze in an extra three hours of work or play each day. The question is, is this common practice of sleep deprivation dangerous?

Most people can get by just fine if they get a few hours less sleep than needed, but only if it’s for one or two nights. When you go many days in a row without sleep, your body gets more fatigued with each passing day. Not only does this show in your performance (coordination, thought process, and reaction time), but it is becoming apparent that lack of sleep can have negative physical effects as well.

A recent sleep deprivation study at the University of Pennsylvania of people who only got 4 hours of sleep per night revealed significant changes in the way their hearts functioned. When compared to a control group who slept at least 8 hours per night, the people sleeping just 4 hours had heart beats that were faster, more irregular, and less able to cope with changing rates (speeding up, or slowing down). The overall conclusion was that less sleep causes your heart to work harder, making it more prone to giving out – ultimately ending in a heart attack, cardiovascular surgery, or even death.

To ensure that you will not suffer the potentially dangerous effects of sleep deprivation, figure out how much sleep you need. Eight hours is commonly referenced as the “magic number” for time spent sleeping but the truth is that everyone is different. Your unique physical makeup as well as your activity during the day can affect how much sleep your body requires. The best way to make sure you are getting enough sleep is to wake up at the same time every day – but simply go to bed at night when your body feels tired. By following this schedule, you can make sure your body’s needs are met appropriately.

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