You May Not Realize It, But You Be Sleep Deprived Without Realizing It. Here are Ten Things You Will Dislike About Loss Of Sleep.
We all know about the effects of lack of sleep, and chances are high you have experienced it at some point, thanks to the fast-paced society we live in today. You do not need to read nectar mattress reviews to get ideas for a good night’s sleep for instance, but you need to prioritize your sleep time. You know very well lack of sleep will lead to grumpiness and fogginess during the day, leading you to feel and function at less than your best.
However, you might not be aware of some of its effects, including affecting your ability to lose weight, memory, overall health, and looks. Here are some of the surprising effects of sleep deprivation.
Accidents
Some of the biggest disasters in recent years have been due to sleep deprivation, since it increases the chances of human error. For instance, the 1986 nuclear accident at Chernobyl, the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island, and the unfortunate Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989.
It is not only these major disasters that can happen or have occurred in the past – on the road, sleep loss is a major public safety hazard. In fact, driving while you are drowsy has the same effect as driving under the influence (DUI), because it can slow down your reaction times.
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) gives rough estimates of 1,550 crash-related deaths and 100,000 automobile crashes occurring every year in the United States alone. In addition, the problem is more prevalent among young people under the age of 25 – which can be due to the pressure they are continuously facing both at school and home, as well as other factors like drug abuse.
Numerous studies reveal that poor quality sleep and sleep losses are a major reason for injuries and accidents as you work. For instance, one study on workers that raised complaints about excess sleepiness during the day showed that they experienced more accidents related to their work, and also had more sick days.
It can dumb you down
You are probably familiar with the sluggish feeling you have when you have not slept well, and it extends throughout your day – making you perform less optimally.
One of the major reasons why your body needs sleep is because it is the best time for the brain to replay and store new information that it has learnt during the day. Therefore, the lack of sleep will hurt this process in numerous ways – because it impairs your concentration, reasoning ability, attention span, problem solving, and alertness. These reasons alone will make it very difficult to learn efficiently.
In addition, loss of sleep causes forgetfulness. Sleep cycles actually play a very important role in your brain, as they help it to consolidate and retain memories. If you lack sleep, you will not be able to remember what you learnt the previous day.
Very serious health issues
Chronic loss of sleep and other sleep disorders can put you at risk of getting heart diseases, heart failure, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure. In fact, medical estimates state that 90 percent of people who suffer from insomnia also tend to have another health condition, whether they know it or not.
Increases the severity and prevalence of depression
The more you go without sleep or proper sleep, the more you increase the chances of getting depression – and if you already have it, it can become worse. According to a study from 2005, the results found that individuals suffering from anxiety or depression had higher chances of sleeping less than six hours every night.
Insomnia is among the most common sleep disorders, and it actually bears strong links to depression. A 2007 study on 10,000 people confirmed this assertion, as people with insomnia were five times more likely to develop the condition, compared to those that did not. For people who already suffer from the condition, insomnia is one of the first signs that alerts to something wrong.
The link between these two is so strong, they actually feed off each other. The signs of depression are normally triggered by lack of proper sleep, and then depression makes it very difficult to fall asleep. The good news though is the management of the sleep problem you have will help to ease the symptoms of depression, and vice versa.
Your skin ages quickly
It is not just the classic puffy eyes and saggy looking skin that shows up when you have had some nights of not sleeping properly – chronic levels of sleep loss can result in fine lines, lackluster skin, as well as dark circles under your eyes.
The effects on your skin are mainly due to cortisol, a hormone the brain produces when the body is under stress. This hormone is only helpful for a short time, but when its levels become excessive and stay too long, it starts to break down collagen – the protein your skin has that helps it remain elastic and smooth.
Lack of proper sleep will also make the body produce very low amounts of the human growth hormone. This hormone is responsible for your growth when you are a child, but even as you grow older, it helps the cells regenerate. This makes the skin thicker, strengthens your bones, and increases your muscle mass.
The body releases this hormone during the deep stages of sleep, also called the slow-wave sleep. It therefore helps in repair of the muscles and body tissue.
Leads to weight gain
If you are battling to lose weight, it is not only your diet and exercise that play a major role – your sleep habits too. This is because the lack of sleep leads to imbalances in the hormones that regulate hunger – making you feel hungrier and eating more to keep your energy levels up. That will lead to weight gain.
Infographic provided by Bel Furniture, a top company to get living room furniture in Texas
Final thoughts
It is easy to dismiss the importance of sleep in your daily life, but your body considers it as very important. Prioritize your sleep time, and these problems will likely not happen to you, as your chances of developing them will be low.
