Many people ignore the benefits of good sleep hygiene and easily fall victim to some of the terrible hazards of a good sleeping habit. It is easy to assume that you can easily catch up without effects if you miss the quality and quantity of sleep you deserve for some days. While the first part of the statement is not wrong, the second part is not as easy as it seems.
The idea of repaying the sleep debt ignores that it can only work for a short time and not for a lengthy period. Otherwise, the lack of sleep may cause irreparable damage. On the other end of the spectrum, some people have picked up old habits to enforce sleep while ignoring the sleep hygiene tips that could be safer, cheaper, and healthier. Learn more for information about cpap machines and their uses.
A lack of sleep can undoubtedly create a terrible feeling of grumpiness and fogginess. But then, do you know that getting it right with sleep hygiene can save your life, restore your sex drive, and help you regain short-term memory. In addition, you can even begin to get a better chance at controlling your body weight and health. Below are some of the most surprising effects of lack of sleep or poor sleep hygiene.
Sleepiness can cause accidents
Although this effect is usually unintended, sleep deprivation is a common factor in bringing about large disasters in recent history. Sleep loss can cause a substantial public disaster on the highway, as there are some records of automobile accidents caused by a sleepy driver. Meanwhile, it does not even have to take a long sleep or nap. Slight drowsiness or slumbering can slow down the reaction that a driver should have in response to impromptu challenges.
A research study observed and recorded the level of fatigue in a crop of drivers before setting out. And it was discovered that thousands of auto crashes are due to this fatigue condition and even led to auto crash deaths worldwide. It may also cause some injuries. On the other hand, work accidents have been associated with daytime sleepiness. At the same time, they may report more sick days for each accident.
Lack of sleep can lower your mental strength
When you fail to get enough sleep, you may be hurting your ability to think and learn properly. That way, rest relates directly to the cognitive strength of your brain in many ways. The first effect one may notice some measure of alertness, attention, reasoning, concentration, and problem-solving skill. Lack of sleep may also add to the difficulty of efficient learning.
In addition, a disrupted sleep cycle during the night specifically can injure your chances of consolidating valuable memories. And without the proper learning and ability to assimilate, it won’t be easy to recollect what has been learned during the day. More so, the mind may feel tired and unyielding.
Serous health challenges as a result of sleep deprivation
There are countless diseases whose risk stems from the sleep disorders that a person may experience. For instance, some of these diseases include
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Unstable heartbeat
- Heart attack
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
If we take insomnia, for example, a considerable percentage of patients with the disorder have one type of disorder. When this happens, they find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep due to underlying health conditions.
Sleeplessness kills sex drive
According to specialists, lack of sleep can also be responsible for a lowered libido or sex drive. This condition can be observed in men and women and can even be expressed in diminished sex interest. In addition to the decreased sex drive, the person experiencing a lack of sleep can also experience depleted energy, high tension, and sleepiness.
Notably, men suffering from sleep apnea, a respiratory problem associated with sleep, can contribute to sexual sloppiness. In addition, clinical research also suggested that sleep apnea can also cause a reduced testosterone level. It can also happen to such men the night when the body secretes a low testosterone level because it did not get the expected amount of sleep.
Depression can be a result of a lack of sleep.
Good sleep hygiene can overcome depression in many cases. On the other hand, insomnia and other sleep disorders have been confirmed as common causes of depression. America once conducted sleep research in 2005 that reported that many people suffered from anxiety and depression.
Also, these people were less likely to sleep for six hours or even less at night. At the same time, insomnia as a sleep disorder today has the most vital link to depression. Statistics even showed that people with insomnia are five times more likely to develop depression over time than those without it. Also, insomnia is the first sign or symptom of depression.
It is difficult to achieve excellent sleep hygiene without acknowledging the relationship between insomnia and depression. The lack of sleep enhances the tendency to have depression. As a result, it makes it more and more difficult to fall asleep. As the patient treats one of the two predicaments, it can help overcome the other. For example, treating sleep problems can overcome depression and vice versa.
Sleeplessness can contribute to the aging of the skin
When the skin suddenly sags and the eyes begin to puff early, it could be associated with a lack of sleep. Clearly, a person who hasn’t slept well shows swollen eyes. But in the advanced stages of this condition of chronic sleep loss, the skin may begin to show some lackluster texture, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes.
On the other hand, when we don’t get enough sleep, the body secretes some measure of the stress hormone cortisol into it. If this hormone accrues over time, cortisol can begin to break down the skin protein collagen. The collagen was meant to keep the skin smooth and elastic. In addition to the stress hormone, the body also releases too little of the human growth hormone due to sleep loss.
A younger person should have more growth hormone to enhance their rapid growth. But this same hormone is responsible for muscle mass, bone strengthening, and skin thickening. It is during sleep that this hormone is often released into our bodies. The secretion process also enhances the repair of the normal tissue, including replacing the wear and tear of the day.
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