When did you last get enough sleep? Just be honest! If you get out of bed week after week feeling like you haven't slept at all, and your eyes open only after a few cups of coffee, then I have bad news for you. Sleep deprivation has a cumulative effect. If you don't get enough sleep regularly, the consequences can be very serious.
How many hours of sleep does the average person need to truly rest?
The amount of sleep that each person needs varies from person to person (the average is around seven to eight hours), but here lies the danger: we often think that everything is in order, when in fact we are sorely lacking sleep.
Thus, if you are constantly deprived of sleep, it is fraught with serious health consequences, and unpleasant symptoms can appear even after the first night of sleep deprivation.
Why is bad sleep dangerous?
In this article, I decided to mention the risks that you are exposed to when you do not get enough sleep.
Risk 1. Weakened immunity
I think what no one would like to face during a pandemic is a drop in immunity. Lack of sleep can affect the body's ability to fight off bacteria and viruses, opening the door to disease.
During sleep, our immune system produces antibodies that are designed to protect our body. And if you don't get enough sleep, your immune system suffers. Thus, the body becomes vulnerable to infections, and recovery is delayed.
Risk 2. Heart issues
Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and heart attack. According to studies, if you sleep less than 6 hours a night and sleep is disturbed, you get a "bonus" in the form of a 48% increase in the likelihood of dying from heart disease by 48% and from a stroke by 15%.
Risk 3. The probability of developing chronic diseases
Constant slow inflammatory processes in the body sooner or later cause the development of more serious diseases. According to some studies, constant lack of sleep increases the risk of developing diabetes or even cancer.
There are many studies on the link between sleep and diabetes. And they all agree that 7-8 hours of rest is the optimal range to avoid insulin problems that can lead to diabetes.
Risk 4. Deterioration of brain function
Even one sleepless night can lead to serious problems with thinking and concentration. What's more, lack of quality sleep for long periods of time can lead to deterioration in brain function, including memory, decision making, reasoning and problem solving, as well as reaction time and alertness.
Risk 5. Weight gain
At night, hormones are produced that regulate the feeling of hunger. The better sleep, the less stress hormone and cortisol in the body. When these hormones are out of balance, it is difficult for the body to tell if it is full or hungry. Most often, the decision, of course, is in favor of the latter.
You probably noticed that after a sleepless night you constantly want something to eat. And if this happens regularly, the weight grows by leaps and bounds.
Risk 6. Skin problems
For those who do not rest at night, the skin becomes thin, flabby and acquires an uneven color. And, of course, wrinkles! People who sleep poorly are more dissatisfied with their appearance than well-rested people.
Risk 7: Depression and anxiety
When we are tired, we become irritable, sometimes even aggressive. Constant lack of sleep is fraught with depression, constant anxiety, inability to concentrate.
Risk 8. Accidents
According to the National Sleep Foundation, if you sleep 6 hours or less every night, you triple your chances of being in a car accident. Think twice before driving if you don't get enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep isn't for pleasure – it can save your life. You may or may not believe in the risks that I have presented to you in this article, but you cannot deny the fact that if you do not get enough sleep, you become irritable and inattentive, have difficulty remembering information and do not really like your appearance in the mirror.
Give yourself a gift and treat yourself with at least 6 hours of sleep!