A quality sleep schedule is imperative for anyone hoping to live a healthy and productive life. Allowing your body to fully recover from the day comes with abundant benefits. So what about the potential risks that accompany a poor sleep routine? Here are just some of the effects sleep deprivation can have on your life.
Weight Gain
Obviously, a lack of sleep can have a severe impact on one’s mental ability, but can it be harmful to one’s physical appearance? Keeping your body from the rest it needs has indeed been linked to weight gain. Studies have found that a lack of sleep can lead to increased levels of the hunger hormone called ghrelin. Not only that, decreased levels of the “fullness” hormone called leptin are also linked with poor sleep. This is a detrimental combination for anyone trying to lose weight or stay in a relatively good physical condition.
Skin Issues
An inconsistent sleep routine can also lead to issues for one’s skin. Everyone is familiar with the puffy or irritated eyes that often accompany a rough night’s rest. However, habitually depriving your body of the hours of sleep it needs can lead to more serious problems than just that. When the body is starved of sleep, it releases the stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol breaks down skin collagen, which is the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic. Deep sleep also promotes the release of a hormone that can assist with muscle growth in adults. Giving the body a proper amount of time to recover each day will result in skin that appears fresh and youthful.
Heart Disease
The consequences of sleep deprivation can be even more serious in certain situations. Poor sleeping habits have proved to have such a negative effect on the body that they can even result in heart disease. A lack of sleep will increase insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and other forms of circulatory issues. Studies have shown that those who restrict their hours of sleep are at greater risk of heart disease or a stroke than those who sleep 7-8 hours a night.
When asleep, the heart rate slows down to recover from the day. When there is not a chance to recover, the heart will expand. An enlarged heart will take in less oxygen and work less efficiently. The body works exceptionally hard to function every day, so allowing it to recover is crucial for anyone who strives for a healthy lifestyle.
** This post was originally published on https://sleepapneahallam.com/2018/03/08/long-term-effects-sleepless-night/
