It is normal to feel tired and cranky after a night of tossing and turning without sleep. However, these are not the only effects. According to research, sleep deprivation could have other severe impacts on your health. More than 50 million United States citizens experience sleep disorders and related consequences. Experts recommend that adults should get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Book an appointment with MindSet for help with sleep disorders in San Diego. Below are serious problems associated with lack of enough sleep:
Deprivation Affects Memory
Research has shown that lack of sleep could make you forgetful. The brain forms connections during sleep to help you remember what you have learned. Therefore, failure to sleep for the recommended hours could affect your short term and long term memories.
Sleep Deprivation Increases the Risk of Obesity
Lack of sleep is associated with hunger and increased appetite. Statistics show that nearly 30% of people who sleep less than recommended are likely to become overweight than those who sleep more. Shortened hours of sleep decrease the level of leptin and ghrelin that regulate sleep. Eating a lot could cause obesity.
Sleep Deprivation Impairs Your Judgment
A healthy person is able to interpret events correctly. However, this is not always the case with sleep-deprived patients. Such people may tell themselves that they have adapted to sleeping fewer hours, but all they are doing is assessing the condition in a way they should not. Poor judgment of your functioning in your profession could be a big problem.
Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin
Everyone wants to retain a smooth and rejuvenated skin present at young ages. However, exposure to various factors could mean otherwise for your beautiful and youthful skin. According to research, sleep deprivation releases excess stress hormones that break down collagen, a protein responsible for smooth and elastic skin. Additionally, our bodies release growth hormones in our sleep to help us gain muscle mass, strengthen bones, and thicken our skin. This does not occur sufficiently for sleep-deprived people.
Sleeplessness is Depressing
A study done in 2005 showed a relationship between sleep disorders and depression. People who slept for less than 6 hours each night are likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Insomnia, one of the most common sleep disorders, aggravates depression symptoms. Depression also causes sleep disorders.
Sleep Deprivation Kills Sex Drive
Sleeplessness has also been found to cause low libido in both men and women. This is because sleeping less than you should results in reduced energy levels and increased tension. Sleep apnea, a respiratory condition that interrupts sleep, is associated with low or abnormal testosterone levels in men, which also could kill your sex drive.
Lack of sleep has been linked to various other emotional, physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems. It could also be a risk factor for health conditions such as diabetes. Various sleep disorders could be affecting your quality and quantity of sleep. Consult MindSet if you are suffering from either to get you back on a healthy road.
