The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Body
Do you have trouble sleeping? Fighting away the tiredness to watch just one more episode of your favourite show on Netflix? Or perhaps you find yourself tossing and turning all night because you just can’t get comfy?
The National Sleep Foundation found that sleeping for less than 7 hours a night can have serious emotional, physical and psychological effects on your life.
We share 6 ways that your body and mind can be affected by a lack of sleep:
Clumsier than usual
If you are feeling like all the walls around you are in your way or you’re walking into doors and tripping over flat pavements, it may be because of your bad sleeping habits.
Bettermind.com say a lack of sleep can make you feel off balance and unsteady because your thought processes can slow down. This leaves you feeling less alert, confused and affects your ability to concentrate; much like the hazy feeling when you have had a couple of glasses of wine.
Weight gain
If you feel like you are feeling hungry all the time and don’t have an explanation, it is probably all that sleep you lost out on last night.
People who have lower levels of sleep produce more of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, which makes you feel hungrier for longer and crave unhealthier foods.
The Harvard School of Public Health conducted a study with 60,000 women over 16 years monitoring their weight, sleep habits, diet, and other aspects of their lifestyle. The study showed that women who slept 5 hours or less per night had a 15 percent higher risk of becoming obese, compared to women who slept 7 hours per night.
Aging your skin
If you have been noticing you’re breaking out in spots, your skin is dull, little faint lines are starting to appear on your face and your eyes are so black it looks like you’ve been fighting with your teddy bear, your lack of sleep may be to blame.
When you don’t get enough sleep your body produces more cortisol. This hormone reacts with your skin and breaks down skin collagen, which is the chemical that keeps your skin looking healthy, fresh and young.
The best product for your skin is a good night sleep… There is a reason it is called beauty sleep!
Higher risk of stroke, cardiac problems and diabetes
Not getting enough sleep can put you at a higher risk of developing illnesses.
While sleeping, your body has a chance to rest, recover and repair itself by restoring the chemical balance needed for healthy bodily functions.
This is important for preventing the chances of developing heart disease. Sleep-time is also the time when your body is producing the most glucose – the substance which can help to prevent diabetes.
NHS Choices state that people who have enough sleep at night have better immune systems and are less likely to get a cold as often.
Anxiety and depression
Over time, lack of sleep that contributes to sleep deprivation can become some of the warning signs for symptoms of depression and anxiety.
A study by the Journal of Youth and Adolescent of nearly 28,000 high school students found for each hour of lost sleep, there was a 38 percent increased risk of feeling anxiety or depressed.
Mental health charity Mind states tiredness reduces your ability to deal with difficult situations as well as the challenges of day-to-day life. This may lower your self-esteem, make it harder to cope and cause your mental health to decline.
Laying your head on a luxury made to measure mattress can help ensure you’re get the recommended 7 hours of sleep tonight and every night. Get ready to be more youthful, healthy and in control of your body and mind while you drift off into a blissful dream land!