The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. A social life, work, family life or just plain restlessness can diminish the amount of sleep that you get so that you no longer get the adequate amount of sleep that your body needs. While the occasional sleepless night is likely nothing to worry about, sustaining a chronic lack of sleep can lead to severe health and mental symptoms that could disrupt your quality of life.
Weight Gain
The amount of sleep you get each night may have a direct connection to your appetite. A study performed by the University of Chicago, with results published in a 2004 issue of "Annals of Internal Medicine," found that when young men's sleep was restricted, they noticed increased hunger and appetite and therefore an increase in weight as well. When you don't get enough sleep, your body restricts the release of leptin, a hormone which helps to control your appetite. What's more, when you haven't got enough sleep, you may find yourself turning to candy, soda and sugary coffee to stay alert and awake.
Cognitive Difficulty
When you've gone without the proper amount of sleep, you may find your cognitive abilities of memory and understanding diminished. Rick Nauert, senior news editor for PsychCentral, points out that a lack of sleep can affect both the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, two areas of the brain which are responsible for your memory. When you don't get enough sleep, you may not process information as well as you should, or forget to do simple tasks. In short, a lack of sleep may result in trouble at work or a diminished ability to learn.
High Blood Pressure
A lack of sleep can alter your ability to deal with stress, which can then affect your blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. Adequate sleep helps to regulate your body's release stress hormones. If you don't get the sleep you need, you may be more prone to stress and high blood pressure. This can be an especially concerning problem if you already suffer from high blood pressure, as a lack of sleep can eventually increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Low Alertness
When you're tired, you're more likely to make large mistakes due to a lack of alertness, which can lead to injury and death, warns the National Sleep Foundation. If you're less alert while operating a motor vehicle, your reflexes may be compromised and you may make fatal decisions due to a lack of sleep. On a lesser scale, small mistakes at work and at home can cause trouble and minor injuries. You may also suffer from a lack of energy, putting a damper on your family and social lives.
References
- National Sleep Foundation: How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?
- "Annals of Internal Medicine": Brief Communication: Sleep Curtailment in Healthy Young Men Is Associated with Decreased Leptin Levels, Elevated Ghrelin Levels, and Increased Hunger and Appetite; December 2004
- PsychCentral: Sleep Deprivation May Contract Brain, Diminish Memory
- MayoClinic.com: Sleep Deprivation
