Sleep is important to good health. If you spend a night turning and tossing, you can expect to feel cranky and tired the next day.
However, not having 7 to 8 hours of solid sleep every night can do more than make you feel grumpy and groggy.
The long-term impacts of sleep deprivation can actually be quite severe. Here are 5 health problems that experts have linked to sleep deprivation.
Decrease in Cognitive Ability
Lack of adequate denies the brain the opportunity to rest. Unfortunately, this leaves the brain exhausted making it difficult for you to process new and old information. As such, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to cognitive problems such as memory loss, reduced alertness, and inability to concentrate.
Poor Mental Health
Having enough sleep every night keeps the hormones that regulate your moods balanced. Therefore, sleep deprivation can disturb this balance and lead to mental health problems such as anxiety, stress, and even depression.
Poor Heart Health
Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked with cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure. Lack of sleep also increases the production of chemicals linked to inflammation. Both of these effects of sleep deprivation significantly increase the risk of heart disease.
Increased Risk of Diabetes
Lack of adequate sleep negatively affects how your body produces and releases insulate. Insulin is the hormone that regulates how your body utilizes glucose in the blood. Therefore, lack of sleep can increase the risk of diabetes.
Increase the Risk of Obesity
It may sound counterintuitive, but lack of sleep can indeed lead to obesity. Researchers have found that people who get less than 6 hours of sleep a night are significantly more likely to be overweight compared to those who sleep for 7 to 9 hours every night. The reason for this is that sleep deprivation increases hunger and appetite, causing a person to take more calories than necessary.
The Bottom Line
Overall, it is apparent that it is extremely important to getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
Don't make staying awake at night a habit. If you have not been getting enough sleep, it is time for you to make a point in improving your sleeping habits for the sake of your health.