Sleep deprivation does more harm than just black circles. While the short-term affects can include brain fog, lack of concentration, and exhaustion, the long-term consequences are far more severe. Everyone should receive at least 8 hours of sleep per night, though this may vary based on your age and work. However, several factors such as stress and health conditions like as sleep apnea can make this difficult. Long-term consequences include both physical and mental health difficulties. Here are some health problems you may face if you suffer from sleep deprivation or insomnia.
1. Aging Skin. Sleep deprivation can make you appear exhausted and older than you are. People who are sleep deprived have sallow skin and swollen eyes. Chronic sleep deprivation can result in dull skin, dark bags under the eyes, and fine wrinkles, all of which detract from the skin’s beauty. Deep sleep causes the release of growth hormone. Without adequate rest, the skin is unable to repair the damage produced by stress. Stress has been shown to have a negative impact on skin health. As a result, adequate sleep is essential for skin health and stress relief.
2. Alzheimer’s disease. According to WebMD, there is a U-shaped connection between sleep duration and cognitive deterioration. Several health problems can emerge if you sleep too much or too little. Sleep deprivation is more likely to raise the risk of dementia. Consult a healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing difficulty sleeping, especially if you are in your 50s or 60s. While this does not necessarily imply that you have Dementia, your healthcare provider can assist you in determining what is causing your sleep problems.
3. Cardiac Issues. Sleep deprivation is linked to a variety of health concerns, including heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. Inadequate sleep causes significant and sometimes irreversible damage to the body. According to studies, 90% of persons who suffer from sleeplessness also have another medical issue. Sleep deprivation raises cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, glucose metabolism, hormone modulation, and inflammation.
4. A healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) requires adequate sleep. People who are on a diet to lose weight must ensure that they receive enough sleep, at least 7-8 hours per night. Sleep deprivation is linked to increased hunger and appetite, as well as obesity. According to one study, those who sleep less than six hours each day are nearly 30% more likely to become obese than those who sleep 7-9 hours. Numerous epidemiological studies have connected short sleep duration and poor sleep quality to an increased risk of obesity.6
5. Respiratory Issues. Waking up during the night can make you more susceptible to respiratory illnesses such as the common cold and flu. Existing respiratory problems, such as chronic lung disease, can worsen as a result of insufficient sleep. This is due to your immune system being inhibited from strengthening its defenses. The immune system generates infection-fighting components such as antibodies and cytokines to combat viruses and bacteria.
6. Influences Intelligence, Sleep plays an important impact in cognition and learning. Inadequate sleep has a variety of effects on cognitive functioning. College students are especially affected by sleep loss and daytime tiredness. It can lead to lower grade point averages, a higher likelihood of academic failure, reduced learning, and poor mood.7 Sleep deprivation also reduces attention, thinking, concentration, awareness, and problem-solving abilities, making it harder to learn efficiently.8
7. Suicidal ideation, A new study conducted by experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States discovered a link between depression and sleep issues. According to the experts, people who have insomnia are ten times more likely to acquire depression than those who obtain a good night’s sleep. “Poor sleep may create difficulties regulating emotions, which, in turn, may leave you more vulnerable to depression in the future—months or even years from now,” says Patrick H Finan, a behavioral medicine expert and sleep researcher at Johns Hopkins Hospital. And depression is linked to sleep problems, such as a reduction in the quantity of restorative slow-wave sleep a person experiences each night.”
8. Impact on the Endocrine System. Sleep deprivation can have an effect on hormone synthesis. This means that endocrine problems, particularly metabolic disorders, might have an effect on your body. An halt in growth hormone production can have a negative influence on muscle mass growth, cell and tissue repair, and other functions. Adequate sleep is also required for the pituitary gland to function properly.