The Consequences of Inadequate Sleep

Resting enough allows your mind to refresh itself and your body to recharge. It is also imperative to get regular sleep, since it is just as important to your well being as eating a healthy diet or getting regular exercise. When you sleep well, you feel emotionally more balanced and you are better at connecting with people. Yet, over 50% of all adult men and women get less than 7 hours of sleep every day while juggling various responsibilities, dealing with personal and work related stresses or raising children. But what are the consequences of inadequate sleep?

Being deprived of sufficient sleep goes way beyond just becoming cranky or feeling exhausted by the early afternoon. In fact, sleep deprivation - which in other words is the lack of restorative sleep – will increase your chances of developing a wide array of dangerous medical conditions. These conditions include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, digestive disorders as well as cancer.

Obesity

Chronic or acute insomnia is also known to weight gain. People who don’t rest enough are 3 times as likely to comfort eat compared to people who get enough rest at night. Not only that, they will be more likely to crave for high calorie foods which will not only increase their weight, but also their likelihood of developing obesity related health conditions.

The Immune System

Insomnia or the long term or frequent lack of sleep will depress the sufferer’s immune system, making him more vulnerable to general colds flu’s and increases the person’s chances of developing allergies, such as hay fever, food hypersensitivities, mold allergies, eczema or psoriasis.

Psychological Conditions

Depression, anxiety disorders or phobias are also more likely to develop in sleep deprived people. On the other hand, in some cases these psychological disorders are already present before the person develops insomnia. In fact, sometimes this is the main cause of the development of this common and upsetting sleep disorder.

One study found that 80% of participants managed to fight through the day time tiredness due to sleep deprivation by  repeatedly drinking coffee or caffeinated drinks. Over 40% of them admitted that they have consumed over 4 cups of such drinks in order to cope with their tiredness. Over 50% of them said that they have reduced the time they spend with friends and family, because of their extreme tiredness.

Hormonally Induced Conditions

Lack of sleep can also interfere with the human body’s hormone production, which will lower both men and women’s sexual stamina. Hormonal imbalances will also contribute to the development of hormonally induced diseases, such as acne, endometriosis, ovarian cysts or PCOS.  

This article is provided by the editor of HolisticHubs.com.