There are many problems related to sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is a problem faced by people nationwide. Everyone has felt the effects of sleep deprivation at one point in their lives. It is proven that 1 in 5 people do not receive enough sleep. Lack of sleep can cause many effects on the human body. Here are some below:
Short- term effects of Sleep Deprivation
Whether it’s staying up late or getting up early in the morning, a few hours of sleep can have a strong negative effect on the body and health. It includes anxiety, lack of concentration and energy, poor decision- making and an impulse to overeat. People believe that being sleep deprived is equal to being intoxicated.
Studies show that the human mind goes to work cleansing itself of waste at the time of our sleep. The speed of signals sent by neurons reduces incredibly when you are tired. When waste builds up, it causes neurons to reduce speed. This can often cause slow decision skills, reaction times and reasoning abilities.
Additionally, when we are asleep, the body releases a higher amount of hunger hormones, but if you are sleep deprived, the body will seek unhealthy food. When you eat unhealthy food, your brains get more rewards than usual – which converts it into a habit. Sleep deprivation is one of the main reasons for unwanted weight gain and diabetes.
Another effect of sleep deprivation is the effects it has on the immune system. When we sleep the body generates antibodies which are proteins that help fight off infections. Studies show that an individual is twice more vulnerable to catch a cold with less than seven hours of sleep. Moreover, it takes longer for the immune system to fix the problem in your body if you are sleep deprived.
Long- term effects of sleep deprivation
It can lead to some serious mental and health issues like high blood pressure, Heart attacks, obesity, memory loss, brain damage and in the worst case, it can even lead directly to death.
