CAN SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECT YOU LONG-TERM?

Sleep issues shouldn’t be ignored since they have serious public health repercussions.

The physiology of many different body systems, including the brain, depends heavily on sleep. But did you know that sleep deprivation is a common issue that keeps getting more frequent as people age?

According to the National Institutes of Health, 7% to 19% of adults reportedly do not get enough sleep, 40% fall asleep during the day at least once a month, and around 60 million Americans have sleep disorders.

Are You Sleep-Deprived?

The primary sign of sleep deprivation is excessive daytime tiredness, but there are other signs, such as depression and issues with memory or concentration. Poor sleeping environment, lifestyle choices, work shifts, using electronic devices right before you’re about to sleep, and other medical conditions are all factors that can cause sleep deprivation.

1. Yawning
2. You keep dozing off
3. Grogginess
4. Poor concentration and irritation
5. Hyperactive behavior
6. Not ready to get out of bed in the morning 

Consequences That Shouldn’t be Ignored!

It’s still not proven why we require sleep. But we do know that it can have devastating impacts if you don’t get enough of it. Some of them are:

Obesity: Sleep deprivation affects the body’s metabolism and eating habits over time. Evidence shows that the shorter the sleep, the greater the level of obesity.

Disorders: Disorientation, paranoia, and hallucinations are some symptoms that some people who are sleep deprived for long periods encounter.

Diabetes: Lack of sleep has been linked to problems with the body’s ability to produce glucose and the quantity of insulin the body produces. People who get only 5-6 hours of sleep per night are about 1.7 times more likely to have diabetes.

Hypertension: According to several extensive epidemiological studies, sleep loss-related complaints are associated with heart attacks and stroke. Increased blood pressure, a faster heartbeat, and inflammation have all been linked to chronic sleep deprivation.

Stroke: According to research in an online issue of Neurology (2019)- those who reported sleeping nine or more hours each night had a 23% higher risk of stroke than those sleeping less than eight hours each night.

Anxiety and Depression: Sleep loss is associated with adverse effects on mood and behavior. Chronic sleep loss has been related to clinical depression. Anxiety and panic attacks are common for sleep-deprived people.

Slow Brain Functioning: When the brain doesn’t get enough sleep, its ability to think efficiently, react quickly, and pay attention decreases. Our emotions will be all over the place, and our motor skills will be out of control.

Long-term sleep deprivation can harm a person’s mental health and well-being, social life, work life, and overall quality of life. It is advisable for anyone dealing with sleep deprivation to consider contacting a medical professional because, as common as this is becoming, it is just as unhealthy.

27 Oct 2022
Pushpangi Raina