Sleep is an essential primary function of the human body as eating. It’s part of the circadian rhythm of life and drives the body function to return to balance. Lack of sleep (less than recommended 7-9 hours) can cause many issues from weight gain, wrinkled skin to mood instability.
Here’s what happens if you don’t get enough sleep.
- Poor brain function and memory
Sleep plays an essential role in thinking and learning. It is also critical for the formation and consolidation of memories. Insufficient sleep can compromise your cognitive function such as paying attention, concentration, alertness, reasoning, decision making and problem-solving. This makes it more challenging to learn or work efficiently. - Weakened immune system
Sleep promotes the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells and encouraging the function of cytokines and antibodies. Chronic sleep deprivation can leave you vulnerable to catching colds or other infectious illnesses and make it harder to recover from infections and heal from wounds. - Increases the risk for serious health conditions
Studies have suggested that people who sleep fewer than five-six hours a night can elevate blood pressure and a higher level of specific chemical markers related to inflammation. Lack of enough sleep also affects insulin function (the hormone that regulates your blood sugar). These can increase your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, etc. - Increases the risk of weight gain and obesity
Two hormones in the body, leptin and ghrelin, control feelings of hunger and fullness. Ghrelin stimulates hunger and leptin signals satiety to the brain and suppresses appetite. If you are not getting enough sleep, your body will secrete high levels of ghrelin and lower leptin, causing you to feel hungrier than usual and crave high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods and possibly to obesity. - Affects mental health
Sleep and mood are closely connected. After a sleepless night, you tend to be more irritable, moody and emotional in the following day. Furthermore, chronic sleep debt may lead to long-term mood disorders like depression and anxiety. - Ageing skin
Consistently skimping on sleep can accelerate premature wrinkling and sagging of your skin, partly because cortisol (a stress hormone that’s released when you’re sleep-deprived) can break down collagen, which keeps your skin smooth and elastic. - Low sex drive and decreases fertility
Sleep-deprived men and women report lower libidos and less interest in sex. It also tends to have difficulty conceiving a baby by reducing the secretion of reproductive hormones.
— Photo via Unsplash
