Lack of sleep does more harm than leaving you with dark circles. While the short-term effects can be brain fog, lack of concentration, and fatigue, the long-term effects are much worse. Everyone should aim for a solid 8 hours of sleep each night, though this can vary based on age and occupation. Unfortunately, factors like stress and health issues such as sleep apnea can interfere with achieving this. The long-term consequences include various physical and mental health problems.
Here are some health risks you might face if you suffer from lack of sleep or insomnia:
1. Skin Aging
Not getting enough sleep can make you look tired and older. People who are sleep-deprived often have sallow skin and puffy eyes. Chronic sleep loss can lead to dull skin, dark circles under the eyes, and fine lines, robbing your skin of its beauty.
The growth hormone, which helps repair stress-related damage to the skin, is released during deep sleep. Without proper rest, your skin can’t repair itself effectively. Therefore, getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining your skin’s health and combating stress.
2. Dementia
According to WebMD, there’s a U-shaped curve when it comes to sleep length and cognitive decline. Sleeping either too much or too little can lead to several health issues, and lack of sleep can increase the risk of dementia. If you’re having trouble sleeping, particularly if you’re in your 50s and 60s, consult a healthcare professional. While sleep difficulties don’t necessarily mean you have dementia, a healthcare practitioner can help identify the underlying causes of your sleep issues.
3. Cardiac Problems
Lack of sleep is linked to many health problems, including heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. The damage caused to the body by insufficient sleep can be severe and sometimes irreparable.
Research shows that 90% of people with insomnia also have another health condition. Insufficient sleep increases cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure, glucose metabolism, hormonal regulation, and inflammation.
4. Obesity
Getting enough sleep is crucial for maintaining a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index). Those who are dieting to lose weight should make it a point to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Lack of sleep is closely linked to increased hunger and appetite, potentially leading to obesity.
One study found that people who slept less than six hours a day were almost 30% more likely to become obese than those who slept 7-9 hours. Multiple epidemiological studies have linked short sleep duration and poor sleep quality to an increased risk of obesity.
5. Respiratory Problems
Frequent awakenings during the night can make you more susceptible to respiratory infections like the common cold and flu. Existing respiratory conditions like chronic lung disease can also worsen due to inadequate sleep. This is because sleep deprivation weakens your immune system, preventing it from building its defenses. The immune system produces infection-fighting elements like antibodies and cytokines, which combat viruses and bacteria.
6. Affects Intelligence
Sleep plays an important role in thinking and learning. Insufficient sleep affects cognitive processes in multiple ways. Sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness can be especially problematic for students, leading to lower grades, increased risk of academic failure, compromised learning, and impaired mood. Lack of sleep also diminishes attention, reasoning, concentration, alertness, and problem-solving abilities, making it difficult to learn effectively.
7. Depression
Recent research by Johns Hopkins University has found a link between depression and sleep problems. People with insomnia are ten times more likely to develop depression than those who sleep well. Patrick H. Finan, an expert in behavioral medicine and sleep researcher at Johns Hopkins Hospital, says, “Poor sleep may create difficulties regulating emotions that, in turn, may leave you more vulnerable to depression in the future—months or even years from now. And depression itself is associated with sleep difficulties, such as shortening the amount of restorative slow-wave sleep a person gets each night.”
8. Effect on Endocrine System
Sleep deprivation can impact hormone production, leading to endocrine disorders, particularly metabolic disorders. An interruption in growth hormone production can negatively affect muscle mass growth, cell repair, and other functions. The full functioning of the pituitary gland also requires adequate sleep.
