Sick of sleeplessness: what happens when you don't get enough shut-eye

Shift work, family responsibilities, technological distractions and illness are some of the reasons some people don't get enough sleep but experts say a consistent lack of sleep can lead to serious health problems.

According to a 2015 UBC study, nearly 40 per cent of Canadians will suffer from a sleep disorder in their lifetimes.

In a new radio series called Wired and Tired, CBC producer Jake Costello, recipient of the Langara Read-Mercer Fellowship, explores the effects of sleeplessness across the age spectrum from babies to seniors.

Series airs September 19 - 23

Monday Sept. 19: Why aren't some medical procedures to aid sleep funded in B.C.?

We hear from someone with sleep apnea and a doctor who wants the B.C. Ministry of Health to catch up to other provinces in terms of treating sleep disorders.

Tuesday Sept. 20: If the baby can't sleep, no one sleeps

A children's sleep consultant has tips for new parents, and one parent will share how her memory started to fade after being woken by her son every night for 14 months.

Student wake-a-thon

We speak with three Van Tech high school students who are organizing a 24-hour wake-a-thon to demonstrate the effects of sleep deprivation.

Wednesday Sept. 21: Can the night-shift cause cancer?

A paramedic speaks about spending more than 25 years on the night shift, and a cancer prevention researcher shares thoughts on how to improve the sleep quality of night-owls.

Thursday Sept. 22: Sleep-deprived workers

Pat Byrne's nephew died falling asleep at the wheel at work. He says organizations like WorksafeBC should do more to protect workers.

Friday Sept. 23: Sleep and the senior's brain

Two seniors talk about how they're trying to improve their sleep, and a postdoctoral sleep researcher is looking into the connection between prolonged sleep deprivation and dementia.

Tune into The Early Edition, weekdays from 5 a.m. PT to 8:30 a.m. PT, to hear the series.

Missed a segment? They'll be uploaded here after they air.

To hear the segment that aired on The Early Edition on Monday, Sept. 19, click on the link labelled Why aren't some medical procedures to aid sleep funded in B.C.?

To hear the segments that aired on The Early Edition on Tuesday, Sept. 20, click on the links labelled If the baby can't sleep, no one sleeps and Student wake-a-thon demonstrates the effects of sleep deprivation

To hear the segment that aired on The Early Edition on Wednesday, Sept. 21, click on the link labelled Can the night-shift cause cancer?

To hear the segment that aired on The Early Edition on Thursday, Sept. 22, click on the link labelled Sleep-deprived workers can be at risk

To hear the segment that aired on The Early Edition on Friday, Sept. 23, click on the link labelled Sleep and the senior's brain

To hear the segment that aired on On The Coaston Friday, Sept. 23, click on the link labelledWhat happens to the brain during sleep?