The Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Human beings require different number of sleep hours in order to be fit. Healthy adults need 7.5 – 9 hours of sleep every night to work well. Nevertheless, the number of hours reduces as a person age.

So what happens to insomniacs and those who only gets a few hours of sleep. Being in good health is not only attributed to our intake of food but also to getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation contributes to most of our illnesses.

Following are some of the effects of sleep deprivation:

• It maximizes our desire for carbohydrates. Sleep deprivation influences the production of Leptin, a hormone that informs our body that we are full. Lack of sleep reduces the creation of Leptin resulting for our body to crave more specifically carbohydrates.

• It is associated to obesity. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation contributes to the low testosterone level, which is responsible for the accumulation of fat and loss of muscles. Our growth hormones are secreted during the third cycle of our sleep, also known as deep sleep. As we grow older, falling into deep sleep is reduced and this lessens the secretion of the growth hormones. If a child is deprived of sleep, there is a tendency for him to get fat since the secretion of his growth hormones is reduced.

• It weakens our immune system. The production of white blood cell, which is responsible for fighting viruses or infections, is minimized because of sleep deprivation.

• It increases the possibility of getting breast cancer. A cancer researcher at the University of Connecticut, Richard Stevens, hypothesized the relation of breast cancer and the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is usually freed during the night. Late-night light obstructs the release of melatonin and further results to a high production of estrogen. High levels of estrogen cause breast cancer.

• It hardens the arteries. Cortisol levels surge high because of the strain inflicted on our body brought about by sleep deprivation. This imbalance can lead to atherosclerosis, which can cause myocardial infarction or heart attack. High levels of cortisol also result to increased fat storage, hypertension, insulin resistance, muscle loss, bone mass loss, depression, and minimized e production of growth hormones and testosterone.

• It damages our glucose tolerance. Our central nervous system is more dynamic and lively when we lack sleep. This affects our pancreas and causes a slow production of insulin, which is required by in digesting glucose.

• It minimizes attentiveness. You may have probably experienced that you cannot concentrate on things and cannot think well if you lack sleep. Thus, sleep deprivation slows down your thinking ability and worst can lead you to accidents.

• It causes desolation and impatience. Sleep deprivation depletes the brain of its neurotransmitters that are accountable for our moods. For this reason, persons who are deprived of sleep gets impatient and are easily depressed.

Therefore, to attain health and wellness, you need to observe good sleeping habits, which is 8 hours of sleep.