A healthy sleep cycle of an adult involves at least 7-hours of sleep every night. While many of us treat sleep as the solution to our fatigue and exhaustion, it also plays a key role in keeping your health in top-notch condition.
Even the healthiest of diets and daily exercise will get you nowhere unless you get an adequate amount of sleep.
While it might not seem like such a big deal to have a disruptive sleep cycle, the effects of going multiple nights without proper sleep will begin to show as your body takes the brunt of it.
Here are some of the ways how lack of sleep affects your body and health:
Drowsiness is one of the most dangerous impacts of sleep deprivation on our bodies. Going about your day while feeling drowsy not only puts you at risk but also others around you. Driving, walking (particularly next to traffic), and doing day-to-day tasks can turn catastrophic and lead to accidents and fatalities due to drowsiness.
Sleeping boosts immunity and protects our body from various health issues, including the seasonal flu, other viral diseases, and even several chronic health issues. On the contrary, prolonged lack of sleep leads to a weakened immunity, making us more prone to catching all kinds of viruses and diseases in the process.
Lack of sleep wreaks havoc on our digestive systems, mainly because sleep is directly related to leptin and ghrelin. These two hormones control hunger and fullness. With a lack of sleep, the level of leptin decreases whereas ghrelin increases, making us crave snacks and all sorts of junk food.
Snacking at night and then staying in bed can lead to exhaustion, lack of movement, and eventually obesity.
If you have a habit of snacking in bed, know that it is a major cause of dirty mattresses and bed bugs. If your mattress is in poor condition due to poor hygiene, replace it with a new one and keep it clean by avoiding eating in bed.
When we sleep, our body gets a chance to repair, recover, and heal. Going days without sleeping increases the risk of contracting heart disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, and high blood pressure, to name a few.
The body releases the growth hormone in children and teens during sleep. This hormone repairs cells, builds muscles and also impacts puberty and fertility. Children with sleep deprivation can experience growth and development issues.
Our skin often reflects our health. People with acne-prone skin get flares when they aren’t well-rested. Sleep deprivation is one of the three main causes of acne. Lack of sleep can also affect hormones and cause chemical imbalance, leading to acne.
Lack of sleep can either be caused by a disorder or because of our lack of initiative. In the case of the former, we urge you to seek medical help. In the latter scenario, it’s best to change your habits and make a positive association with sleeping. Things that help create a comfy surrounding are a nice warm blanket, a clean room, low lights, a high-quality mattress, and a relaxing bedtime routine.
Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels
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