Effects of Sleep Deprivation

You surely already know that, if you don’t get enough good night’s sleep, you will feel tired and cranky the next day. Not being able to rest properly during the night has an impact on … Read more

Written by:

Derek

Last Updated: Thu, March 1, 2018

You surely already know that, if you don’t get enough good night’s sleep, you will feel tired and cranky the next day. Not being able to rest properly during the night has an impact on our well-being and performance. When we are sleep deprived, we have issues concentrating and being productive. Our mood is also affected, and our health can be compromised, especially if we are chronically sleep deprived. Some people don’t take the lack of sleep seriously because they are not aware of its potential consequences. You should always strive to get enough sleep during the night. Otherwise, it may have a negative impact on your health.

Short-Term Effects

Sleep deprivation can result in various short-term problems, including:

Forgetfulness – If you don’t get enough rest during the night, it can have an impact on your ability to remember things. It is crucial to get plenty of sleep if you want to keep your memory sharp.
Inability to Concentrate – You should be aware that sleep has an important role in learning and thinking. If you are sleep-deprived, it will impact these cognitive processes. Your attention will be impaired, and you will have troubles concentrating on your tasks and solving problems.
Relationship Problems – Sleep deprivation can have an impact on your mood and behavior. If you are not well-rested, you may feel nervous and moody. In these situations, people are more prone to having conflicts with others, and this can result in relationship problems. Another consequence of the lack of rest is that you will be less interested in sex than usually because of the depleted energy and increased tension.
Car Accidents – Unfortunately, drowsy drivers cause thousands of accidents, injuries, and fatalities each year. Driving a vehicle while tired has the same consequences as driving while under the influence of alcohol. Drowsiness slows down your reaction time, and as a result, you may not be able to react fast enough if you encounter an obstacle while on the road. Don’t drive if you feel drowsy, as you may end up injuring someone, or worse.

Long-Term Effects

If you are chronically sleep-deprived, you can face severe consequences:

High Blood Pressure – The more sleep you get, the lower the chances of developing high blood pressure. Sleep allows our body to regulate stress hormones. If you don’t get enough rest at night, and it continues for an extended period, your body won’t be able to regulate stress hormones properly, which will result in high blood pressure. It can even result in a heart attack when combined with increased heart rate.
Depression – The lack of sleep can contribute to the symptoms of depression. According to research, people who sleep less than 6 hours at night are more prone to anxiety and depression. They go together hand in hand – sleep deprivation aggravates depression symptoms, and depression can make it hard for you to fall asleep. Luckily, if you treat one of these two things, the other issue will also be treated.
Weight Gain – The lack of sleep is connected to increased appetite and hunger. When we don’t get enough rest, it impacts our body’s ability to produce hormones in charge of appetite regulation. Sleep deprivation stimulates our appetite, and we tend to crave for high-fat foods. We are also too tired to exercise, and the combination of these two things results in weight gain.

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