Sleep deprivation
Everyone's
experienced the fatigue, short temper and lack of focus that often follow a
poor night's sleep. An occasional night without sleep makes you feel tired and
irritable the next day.
After
several sleepless nights, the mental effects become more serious. Your brain
will fog, making it difficult to concentrate and make decisions. You'll start
to feel down, and may fall asleep during the day. Your risk of injury and
accidents at home, work and on the road also increases.
If it
continues, lack of sleep can affect your overall health and make you prone to
serious medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure
and diabetes.
Dangers Of Tiredness And Sleep Deprivation:
- If
you seem to catch every cold and flu that's going around, your bedtime could be
to blame. Prolonged lack of sleep can disrupt your immune system, so you're
less able to fend off bugs.
- Sleeping
less may mean you put on weight! Studies have shown that people who sleep less
than 7 hours a day tend to gain more weight and have a higher risk of becoming
obese than those who get 7 hours of slumber.
- Sleep
debt may lead to long-term mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
- Studies
have suggested that people who usually sleep less than 5 hours a night have an
increased risk of developing diabetes.
- Men
and women who don't get enough quality sleep have lower libidos and less of an
interest in sex, research suggests.
- Long-standing
sleep deprivation seems to be associated with increased heart rate, an increase
in blood pressure and higher levels of certain chemicals linked with
inflammation, which may put extra strain on your heart.
If you aren't getting at least seven hours of sleep every night, you're not promoting optimal health and well-being. Relaxed, peaceful sleep is as important to your health and productivity as food.
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