Sleep Deprivation Effects: What is a sleep deprivation? It is a condition in which you lack sleep and rest, thereby making you form a sleep debt. It may look like a very common problem. Many of us undergo this. Sad to say, it is far worse than what you think it is. Sleep deprivation is not just lack of sleep, it is a disorder that will affect both the physical and mental well-being. If you have a chronic sleep deprivation, then you’re likely to develop insomnia, depression and eating disorders too. So what are side effects of sleep deprivation? What are its signs? Without further ado, let’s have a look at its symptoms and effects.
Signs Of Sleep Deprivation
- Inability to handle stress / depression
- Trouble remembering
- Inability to make decisions
- Increased appetite
- Fever and colds
- Lack of focus
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Clumsiness/ klutz
- On and off mood swings
Sleep Deprivation Effects
Like we mentioned earlier, this condition can leave a great impact on your health. So what are the negative effects of sleep deprivation?
1. Impaired memory
Students think that by burning their midnight oils, the input is more, thereby increasing their chances to attain a good grade in exams. Unfortunately, it does not work that way. When your brain does not rest well, the connection between cells becomes affected. This later makes it hard for the students to remember the facts they have been trying to remember. Also read : How To Increase Memory Power?
2. Migraine
People who suffer from this disorder are likely to adapt a migraine. When you lack sleep, your blood circulation becomes slower resulting in low blood pressure. It will begin with slight headaches, and worsen over time. Exacerbation of migraine is likely to occur to those who already have it. Read More : 9 Best Remedies Of Migraine
3. Insomnia
This is not at all a shocker. You’re clearly to develop insomnia too when you have a sleep debt. If you think you’re having a hard time to get a deep, uninterrupted sleep, or to fall asleep, see a doctor. You probably are having insomnia already. Read More : 10 Killer Tips to Cure Insomnia
4. Depression
I personally have a friend who is undergoing chronic depression. And according to the doctor, it was caused by sleep loss. You start panicking over little things, and become less friendly when you have a depression. So you might want to make sure to get adequate sleep from now on. Also read : How To Deal With Stress?
5. Heart diseases
Sleep loss increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and heart failures. For some individuals who suffer from sleep deprivation, heart attacks are associated with the increase in cholesterol level. While for the rest, it’s due to stress and depression. Also read : Foods That Can Help Lower Cholesterol
6. High blood pressure & High cholesterol level
When you’re depressed, your blood pressure increases. Upon this, your metabolism rate becomes affected too. It begins to slow down. This results in inability to burn the calories at a normal rate, and leads to excessive fat storage. And then, you know what happens; increase in cholesterol level, heart attacks, strokes etc. Read More: Treatments Of High Blood Pressure
7. Obesity
65 percent of sleep loss sufferers gained more weight in their duration of sleep loss. Like I mentioned above, metabolism rate starts slowing down due to the stress. And you gain weight more quickly than usual. In addition to this, you will also have an increased appetite, which makes you consume more calories. This in the long run will lead to obesity. Read More : How To Get Rid Of Obesity?
Guide to Get Good Night Sleep and Rest [Infographic]
Here’s an inforgraphic on the effects as well as some tips to help you sleep better :
Now that you have learnt some sleep deprivation effects, you might want to make sure you get sufficient sleep and rest now. Why strain yourself by staying awake even after learning the consequences? It is high time that you stopped viewing sleep as a waste of time. After all, a good sleep ensures a better ability to function and perform in life. Should there be any queries or feedback, drop them in the comment box below. Thank you!
