Health

7 Ways Lack of Sleep Affects Your Health

If you have a busy lifestyle, and you often skip sleeping, you might be doing more harm to your body than you can imagine. Lack of sleep affects your metabolism, your immune system, and causes several health problems. If you believe that sleeping is a useless activity, think again. Below you will find five reasons to find time for relaxation and sleep in the future.

Metabolism / Weight Gain

If you don’t sleep enough or wake up tired every morning, you are likely to gain weight, as your body will release a higher dosage of insulin every time you eat, This means you will not feel full for long, and develop cravings at night. Your metabolism only functions well if you have enough sleep, and slows down when you are overworked and don’t have a rest. You can improve your sleep by finding out the best position, taking herbal supplements, or improving your daily routines.

Anxiety and Mental Health Issues

If your body and mind don’t get enough rest, you will be more irritable and develop mental health illnesses. You might be saying that you are just stressed, tired, or snappy, but long term you will develop an anxiety disorder that will affect your life. You will be more likely to have a relationship breakdown, turn to alcohol or other substances if you are always on the edge. Lack of sleep negatively impacts your central nervous system, and you can even have hallucinations and paranoid thoughts as a result.

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Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

If your cardiovascular system doesn’t get enough rest, you will put too much pressure on your heart, and have an increased risk of a stroke, heart attack, or high blood pressure. If you cannot slow down your body for a few hours each day and switch off, you might put your health in danger. Make sure that you find out more about the root of the problem by consulting a heart health doctor such as Dr. Allen Amorn. Prevention is always better than a cure.

Greater Risk of Diabetes

A recent Harvard study concluded that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to develop diabetes than those who have enough rest every day. Researchers found that those who had five or fewer hours sleep each day had an increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes. The article also states that if you manage to improve your sleeping habits, your risk level is reduced.  

Respiratory Diseases

This effect of your lack of sleep is related to the diseases of the immune system. If you don’t allow your body to recover after a stressful day, your immune system will not have the power to fight the common cold, and you are more likely to develop immune diseases, such as asthma. Complications of cold and flu are more common among people who don’t get enough sleep, as their body’s defense system is not strong enough to fight back.

Hormonal Imbalance

Your hormonal system has a delicate balance, and a lack of sleep or irregular sleeping patterns can cause problems. When you have a hormonal imbalance, you will experience sudden weight loss or gain, irritability, and annoying changes in your appearance. More importantly, hormonal problems also cause a lack of sex drive, which will have a negative impact on your relationship. Getting enough sleep and having a healthy balance of work and rest can improve your life in many ways.

Compromised Brain Function

Your brain needs a rest to recover from the hard work it does every day. If you cannot relax, or don’t get a good night’s sleep, you are not allowing your brain cells to regenerate, and you will experience memory loss, lack of focus, and reduced abilities to think clearly. The common experience of the “foggy brain” is often caused by the lack of good night sleeps. Make sure that you learn how to relax, switch off, and engage in a deep sleep. If you have difficulties falling asleep at night, find a method that works, such as listening to music or meditation.

While the visible signs of sleep deprivation are easy to understand, such as feeling sleepy and yawning during the day, you should also consider the long term impact of your unhealthy sleep patterns on your body. If you are not able to switch off at night, or simply cannot find the time to get at least seven hours of relaxation, you will need to get expert help, so you can protect your future and health.

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