Are you somebody who wishes to sleep all day long? All of us wish that. But sadly, our 9 to 5 jobs, hectic schedules, binge-watching and phones don’t allow that. You’re doing well if you are managing to sleep for 7 hours or more, but if not, you are only doing your body harm.
To say, adequate sleep is important would be an understatement. Let’s say, if you don’t sleep enough, you are only increasing the risk of premature death. But that’s the worst-case scenario, here are several ways inadequate sleep, and sleep deprivation can affect your health.
Feeling Tired
You already have an exhausting commute to make you tired at the end of the day, the last thing you would want is sleep deprivation to make you even more exhausted. But you might have already experienced what happens next when you have a night of inadequate sleep – you wake up with pain in your body.
Sleep deprivation can cause fatigue, and dip your energy levels, which can hamper your lifestyle; including your ability to complete day-to-day tasks and do the things you like to do.
And if you happen to be a gym freak, you would be only wasting your hard work in the gym without proper sleep. Remember, your body needs to recover, whether it is from a vigorous workout or your everyday routine.
Mood swings
Sleep deprivation can have a significant effect on your mood. You will most likely wake up grumpy and irritated when you don’t sleep for as long as you should. You might take it on the people around you and those who you care about, affecting your relationships with them.
Your emotions are regulated by the amygdala in the brain. The amygdala goes into overdrive when you don’t sleep enough. It produces more intense and impulsive emotional reactions to challenging situations.
Poor balance
A night of inadequate sleep is enough to put you out of balance. Sleep deprivation, whether acute or chronic, negatively impacts various functions, including motor control functions. It’s very likely for you to stumble every now and then due to drowsiness and lack of focus, increasing the risk of falls and accidents.
Weight Gain
Adding pounds to the waistline is the last thing we want. But that’s what would happen if you don’t have adequate sleep. Sleep deprivation has been associated with the production of appetite-regulating hormones in the body. Inadequate sleep can increase levels of the hormone ghrelin. This hormone is responsible for appetite, which means an increased production of this hormone can lead to an increase in appetite.
Not to mention, your body burns a significant number of calories during your sleep. No sleep means no significant number of calories burned.
Increased risk of diabetes
Diabetes affects a considerable number of people around the world. Not only genetics, and medical history but your lifestyle habits play a crucial role in deciding if you would develop diabetes in future. These lifestyle habits do not only include an inactive lifestyle but inadequate sleep as well. Turns out, sleep deprivation can lead to impaired glucose tolerance or higher blood sugar levels, increasing your risk of diabetes.
Increase in stress levels
There are enough things in our lifestyle to take our stress levels to the peak, but inadequate sleep can make it even worse. Sound sleep is necessary for mental health and the ability of the body and mind to cope with stress. Sleep deficiency can flare up cortisol, which is also known as the stress hormone. A restful sleep, on the other hand, can reduce cortisol levels in your body.
Forgetfulness
Forgot your wallet? Well, that can be a result of inadequate sleep. Forgetfulness is a common consequence of sleep deprivation. It is no new news that the brain is responsible for memory, concentration and mindfulness. If the brain isn’t rested for the day, the obvious consequence is an impact on routine cognitive functions, including memory. In addition, lack of sleep does not only affect your day-to-day cognitive functions but increases the risk of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Closing thoughts
The detrimental impacts of sleep deprivation cannot be overstated. From compromised cognitive function and decreased productivity to a heightened risk of chronic health conditions, the consequences of inadequate sleep extend far beyond mere fatigue. Recognising the gravity of this issue, it is crucial that individuals prioritise sleep as an essential aspect of their overall well-being.
