A nonstop schedule of primaries and caucuses make both the presidential candidates and their staff vulnerable to sleep deprivation, which can have a negative effect on their performance during the campaign. 

 

The demands of the campaign will peak with the approach of “Super Tuesday,” Feb. 5, when a primary or caucus will take place in 24 states. Candidates will be pushed to the limit as they criss-cross the country, often stopping to visit more than one state in a day. 

 

Although the candidates may need different amounts of sleep to feel alert and well rested, most adults experience symptoms of sleep deprivation when they fail to sleep for an average of seven to eight hours per night. Lifestyle choices, personal obligations and occupational demands all can produce sleep deprivation. Another cause can be an ongoing sleep disorder or medical condition that disturbs sleep. 

 

For both the candidates and their campaign staff, sleep deprivation poses numerous health risks. It has been associated with an increased risk of medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and obesity. It also can lead to drowsy driving, which is associated with almost 20 percent of all serious car-crash injuries. 

 

Sleep deprivation also can affect how a candidate performs during the course of a campaign. These effects can be both obvious and subtle, having a profound impact on how a candidate thinks, feels and acts. 

 

Here are some key ways that sleep deprivation may impair the presidential candidates along the campaign trail.

 

 

The primary symptom of sleep deprivation is daytime sleepiness. It can be overcome temporarily by an increase in concentration and effort, or with the help of a stimulant such as caffeine. But the effects of ongoing sleep deprivation are much stronger and can make sleep impossible to resist.

 

“The effects of sleep loss on alertness and performance are consistent, accumulating with either continued wakefulness or chronic shortening of sleep, and, eventually, are overwhelming,” warns a task force report from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

 

This pressure to sleep is greatest in quiet, monotonous situations. Although a candidate may be able to stay awake while on the go, he or she may start nodding off when forced to sit still for a presentation or ceremony. 

 

 

Sleep deprivation also can have a severe effect on a candidate’s mood. It can lead to irritability, a lack of motivation, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. This can exacerbate the mood swings that a candidate may experience during the natural peaks and valleys of a competitive campaign.

 

Sleep-deprived candidates also may experience a variety of mental and physical symptoms that can impair performance. He or she may struggle to concentrate and may be more easily distracted. As a result the candidate may be more likely to make mistakes, especially during debates or question-and-answer sessions when quick thinking is required. 

 

Candidates also may experience restlessness and a lack of energy. This can make it more difficult to keep up with the relentless pace of a long campaign.

 

 

One of the most critical effects of sleep deprivation is the impact it can have on the decision-making skills of both a candidate and his or her advisers. 

 

A 2007 study in the journal Sleep used a gambling task to show that risky decisions can be more attractive to a sleep-deprived brain. The study also cites other research showing that well-rested people learn to avoid high risks and choose what is most advantageous, while sleep-deprived people tend to continue making high-risk decisions.

   

A 2000 review in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied shows that sleep deprivation is most likely to affect the kind of spur-of-the-moment decisions that can make or break a political campaign. The decisions that are impaired most by sleep deprivation involve handling unexpected changes, revising plans, finding innovative solutions, competing with distractions, and communicating effectively.

 

 

In the fight against sleep deprivation, candidates may rely on caffeine or another stimulant for a quick boost. Although stimulants can provide a short-term benefit, they are not a long-term solution for the effects of sleep deprivation.

 

“These alternatives may mask sleep-loss-associated deficits to some extent for a limited period of time, but they do not substitute for the daily need for sleep of sufficient quantity and quality to maintain alertness, performance, and mood,” advises the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

 

Stimulants may be associated with a number of side effects, and they may not restore alertness and performance to normal levels. Individuals also may have varying degrees of sensitivity and tolerance to a stimulant’s effects. Prescription stimulants always should be used under the supervision of a licensed physician.  

 

Getting extra sleep before a period of sleep loss is one way a candidate may be able to reduce the effects of sleep deprivation. During a period of sleep loss it may be beneficial to take brief naps of 30 minutes or less. Longer naps may leave the candidate extremely groggy after waking up. Combining a nap before a period of sleep loss with caffeine use during sleep loss may improve alertness over a longer stretch of time.