Sleep is something that everyone needs. It’s as essential to living as breathing, drinking and eating.
The problem is that it’s one of the easiest things to forgo. Busy work schedules, nightmares and troubled thoughts are just three of the things that can prevent you from sleeping in a laundry list that is miles long.
If you currently underestimate the importance of sleep, then you should take a look at the following four ways that a lack of sleep can seriously affect your health.
1. Sleeplessness Slows Down Your Mental Faculties
When you don’t get enough sleep, there is a fog that settles on your brain. It gets harder to work, things become less enjoyable, and solutions seem harder to grasp as the hours pass.
A lack of sleep causes drowsiness, which in turn results in a delayed mental reaction. You may have trouble thinking, planning or deciding on anything but when your next rest will be.
2. Lack of Sleep Can Put You at Risk for Serious Problems
People who can’t get enough sleep are putting themselves at a higher risk for conditions like heart disease, diabetes and stroke. One estimate even goes as far as to say that individuals with sleeping disorders have at least one other serious health condition.
3. Unrestful Sleep Can Make You Gain Weight
People who have issues with sleeping due to conditions like sleep apnea tend to weigh more. There is a causal link between their unrestful sleep and their heavier bodies, as researchers have found that Ghrelin, a chemical that stimulates satiety in the brain, is produced during restful sleep.
A lack of sleep can result in less Ghrelin and more weight, and more weight can also lead to sleep apnea and even less sleep. Companies like CPAPMan have created devices that help pump air into your lungs while you sleep to combat sleep apnea and its associated risks.
4. Too Little Sleep Could Kill You
British researchers conducted a study amongst servants who had cut their sleeping hours from seven to five or less. What they found is that those who had decreased their time for sleeping had nearly double the chances of dying.
While there are a myriad of reasons behind why this is so, the best way to summarize it pertains to another statistic this study found: lack of sleep doubled a person’s chances to develop heart disease.
Sleep is Invaluable
While there are many causes for a lack of sleep and just as many controversies arguing what purpose sleep serves in an individual’s life, one thing is clear: everyone needs their fair share of restful slumber.
Without sleep, the serious health effects that could seriously hinder your life.
The good news is that finding a restful night’s sleep on a regular basis is becoming more readily available with an increased understanding of what sleep does and what processes might interrupt it.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.
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