What Happens to Your Body When You Don't Sleep
We all know sleep is good for us, but most of us struggle to make it a priority. This may be tolerable for a few days, but here is what happens to your body over the long-term when you don't get enough sleep:
Sleep deprivation is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.1 For example, women who sleep less than 5 hours per night are more likely to develop diabetes symptoms than women who sleep 7 to 8 hours per night. Additionally, after only 4 days of little sleep your insulin sensitivity dramatically decreases.
Sleep deprivation is closely linked with an increase in blood pressure. For people who already have high blood pressure, even one night of no sleep can lead to elevated blood pressure the following day.
Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and obesity. One reason why this happens is that sleep deprivation increases the production of a biochemical called ghrelin.
Grehlin functions as an appetite stimulant, so the less you sleep the more likely you are to feel hungry. Sleep deprivation also reduces the production of the hormone leptin; which signals to your brain that you have had enough to eat. As your leptin goes down, you will constantly crave foods that are high in carbohydrates.
A lack of sleep is one of a number of factors that can result in cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks.2 For example, in healthy individuals sleep deprivation increases inflammation that is associated with the future development of cardiovascular disease
Sleep deprivation leads to issues with both your short and long-term memory. This is because the various stages of sleep are important to supporting and fostering nerve connections in the brain. These nerve connections are important for learning and memory.
The link between sleep deprivation and problems with concentration is well established; as the sleep-deprived brain has to work harder to complete the same tasks when compared to a non-sleep deprived brain. Sleep deprivation also makes you less able to focus and concentrate on a task (in addition to making it harder to learn and remember).
After a good night’s sleep, you are more likely to feel optimistic, motivated, and happy. After a night spent tossing and turning, you are more likely to feel irritable, short tempered, sad, and stressed..Longer-term sleep disruption may also increase your risk of developing depression or anxiety.
The good news is that even if you haven't been making sleep a priority, you can start right away. Go ahead and set aside 8 hours for sleep tonight; you may be saving yourself from major health issues down the road.
1. Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Sleep deprivation is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.1 For example, women who sleep less than 5 hours per night are more likely to develop diabetes symptoms than women who sleep 7 to 8 hours per night. Additionally, after only 4 days of little sleep your insulin sensitivity dramatically decreases.
2. Elevated blood pressure
Sleep deprivation is closely linked with an increase in blood pressure. For people who already have high blood pressure, even one night of no sleep can lead to elevated blood pressure the following day.
3. Weight gain
Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and obesity. One reason why this happens is that sleep deprivation increases the production of a biochemical called ghrelin.
Grehlin functions as an appetite stimulant, so the less you sleep the more likely you are to feel hungry. Sleep deprivation also reduces the production of the hormone leptin; which signals to your brain that you have had enough to eat. As your leptin goes down, you will constantly crave foods that are high in carbohydrates.
4. Increased risk of cardiovascular problems
A lack of sleep is one of a number of factors that can result in cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks.2 For example, in healthy individuals sleep deprivation increases inflammation that is associated with the future development of cardiovascular disease
5. Short and long-term memory problems
Sleep deprivation leads to issues with both your short and long-term memory. This is because the various stages of sleep are important to supporting and fostering nerve connections in the brain. These nerve connections are important for learning and memory.
6. Difficulty with concentration
The link between sleep deprivation and problems with concentration is well established; as the sleep-deprived brain has to work harder to complete the same tasks when compared to a non-sleep deprived brain. Sleep deprivation also makes you less able to focus and concentrate on a task (in addition to making it harder to learn and remember).
7. Increased stress
After a good night’s sleep, you are more likely to feel optimistic, motivated, and happy. After a night spent tossing and turning, you are more likely to feel irritable, short tempered, sad, and stressed..Longer-term sleep disruption may also increase your risk of developing depression or anxiety.
The good news is that even if you haven't been making sleep a priority, you can start right away. Go ahead and set aside 8 hours for sleep tonight; you may be saving yourself from major health issues down the road.
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