People are becoming increasingly sleep-deprived due to 24-hour internet access and tight schedules. According to the 2019 Philips Global Sleep Survey, 44% of the world’s population suffers from sleep deprivation. A good night’s sleep is essential for the proper functioning of our entire body and mind. Sleep deprivation can lead to various health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, depression, and anxiety. Various factors might contribute to sleep deprivation, and our bodies respond by sending us signals. Let’s take a look at six sneaky signs that you’re sleep-deprived.
- Feeling stress and anxiety all-day
Did you know sleep deprivation can increase Castrol or stress hormones in your body, making you irritable and lousy all day long? You may feel anxious about even little things. Depriving yourself of sleep is like pushing yourself into depression and stress, eventually decreasing your productivity and ability to balance your work-life. Frequent feelings of stress can push you into depression which can worsen the situation.
It would help if you do not overlook this sign of sleep deprivation and must try to get better sleep by removing unnecessary distractions such as the internet and late-night parties. With it, you can try some more remedies such as yoga and meditation, or develop a hobby that can calm you when you feel anxious and stressed.
- Health Issues
Health issues related to sleep deprivation may sound unrealistic to some people. Still, it’s a proven fact that sleep deprivation can lead to many health issues such as lower immunity, spine-related problems, diabetes, disturbed sleep, and can make you cranky all the time. Sleep deprivation can lower your immunological level, which protects the body against sickness.
According to this dentist who does high-quality dental implants in New York, continuous lack of sleep can contribute to the deterioration of your dental health. It can especially cause or worsen gum diseases.
Back discomfort is another problem that may make your life a living hell. Choosing a firm mattress topper can solve this issue which will make you more comfortable and will help in making your spine alignment correct. To have a good night’s sleep, avoid intoxicants like alcohol, smoking, and caffeine before going to bed, as these disrupt your sleep. The next important step is to go to bed early and avoid staying up late. Try to do more physical activity and you can also consult your doctor if health issues start increasing.
- Lethargy and Dizziness
When you don’t get enough sleep, you feel less energetic, and try to chug as much coffee and energy drinks to feel more energized and active. However, they are only temporary solutions, as coffee and energy drinks may give you an energy boost for 2-3 hours, but eventually, you will feel drowsy. This may lead to micro sleeping during work hours, a continual craving to lay down, and inventing excuses not to exercise.
Dizziness and even continual mood swings can occur in some extreme cases of sleep deprivation, exacerbating the condition. Working out properly and having a good night’s sleep of at least 7 hours might help you feel less tired and more energized.
- Memory issues
It’s amazing how we remember the events that had happened in the past for the most prolonged period of time. But do you know how memory is saved in our minds? When we sleep our body relaxes but our mind stays active and tries to consolidate all the important events and makes a memory of them. Sleep also improves our concentration and even our ability to process information faster.
In the short term, sleep deprivation can reverse the process of memory formation, and in certain situations, it can even cause long-term memory loss. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies become fatigued and are not able to function properly. So, next time you have a good time or make a memorable moment that you want to cherish for the rest of your life, make an effort to get a good night’s sleep.
- Drastic changes in appearance
Sleep deprivation slows your metabolism, which leads to weight gain. Sleep deprivation also causes you to eat more than usual. These factors contribute to obesity, hypertension, and, in the worst-case scenario, diabetes. Your stomach processes the food you’ve eaten while you sleep, but if you don’t get enough sleep, your biological system will be disrupted and not function properly making you feel bloated. When you are awake for extended periods, you have a more vital need to eat, commonly known as perpetual hunger, which means you crave more calories than usual.
Sleep deprivation can cause severe changes in your body, including extreme hair loss and early skin aging, among other issues. You may not notice these indicators right away, but eventually, you will notice drastic changes happening to your body and mind.
- Problems in interpersonal relationships
When you do not get an adequate amount of sleep, you tend to get grumpy, irritated, and lose your temper quickly. This might significantly impact your relations with family, friends, and relatives. It can also impair your judgment, making it more challenging to make decisions. Sleep deprivation also lowers sex drive and fertility since the libido diminishes and testosterone levels, particularly in men, drop.
Increased mood swings and irritable behavior can lead to more disputes and quarrels, wreaking havoc on interpersonal relationships, which is probably the last thing you want to happen in your life.
Conclusion:
According to Ben Speilberg, founder of TMS and brain health,” getting poor sleep quality is detrimental to one’s health. It leads to problems ranging from irritability, anxiety, and even depression.” Sleep deprivation can make humans a zombie as you will not find happiness in anything you do. You will always feel lazy and non-interested. It will also impair your decision-making and interpretational skills. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes obtaining enough sleep regularly, can be difficult, especially when you are under pressure from a job deadline or an exam. But keep in mind that sleep is your friend (and you’ll need it to do this!). So, when it comes to memory and learning, get some rest.
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