The Alarming Effects Of Sleep Deprivation – Why You Need More Sleep Now
In the majority of books or articles that I read about writing, they tell you to write about what you know. So as I feel very down today, and I suspect it’s due to interrupted sleep, I’m writing about the effects of sleep deprivation on our bodies.
In many of my mental health articles, I’ve explained that my depression does not appear to have a specific cause. HOWEVER, there are definite triggers that either bring on an episode or make it worse. Among those triggers, sleep is a biggie. Not just a lack of sleep but also interrupted sleep, some naps and sleeping for too long at night too.
Last night, I couldn’t drift off. It happens sometimes, and as today is Sunday, I wasn’t too worried. I finally fell asleep between 1:30 and 2 am. One of the delight foibles of being a cat owner is that they operate on an entirely different schedule to their hooman staff. One of my tabbies, Zelda, appeared around 6:30 want a cuddle. I was sleepily scratching her, and all was well.
That’s when Jupiter woke up. He is my husband’s special boy and usually sleeps on the bed. I was dimly aware of him walking across me as I stroked Zelda this morning. At that point, the little f*cker decided to take a massive leap from my bedside table to a tall chest of drawers. He knocked off a little trinket box which landed with a massive crash right next to my head! Grrrrr!
I decided that the quickest way to get back to sleep was to give all my fur babies their breakfast. After that, I just couldn’t get back to sleep. I finally dozed for a while around 8 am but felt like sh*t when I woke up. I’ve continued to feel awful all day.
So, let’s take a look at the effects of sleep deprivation on our bodies, the physical, mental and emotional symptoms.
Physical Symptoms
Clumsiness. If you’re tired, you’re less likely to be paying attention. You are more likely to trip, fall or bump into things. Most of the time, this will only result in minor cuts and bruises, but a fall down the stairs or near a road could be more serious.
Immune System Impairment. During sleep, your immune system produces antibodies and other substances that fight infection. If you don’t get enough sleep, your immune system will not be running at full capacity. As a result, you could get more colds or other illnesses, which may last longer.
Chronic illnesses. Some of the more serious effects of sleep deprivation long-term, sleep deprivation are proven links with an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Poor sleep can cause insulin resistance, which can lead to weight gain and diabetes. It’s true that increased weight can cause type 2 diabetes, but it’s not always the person’s fault that they gain weight in the first place.
Increased Weight. The effects of sleep deprivation on increased weight are threefold. Firstly, if we do not get enough sleep, our body’s ability to produce ghrelin and leptin is affected. These hormones control the body’s hunger and satiety signals meaning we may eat more than needed or eat at strange hours of the day or night.
Another effect of sleep deprivation is that the body reduces less insulin when you eat. This leads to higher blood sugar and eventually type 2 diabetes.
Finally, not getting enough sleep lowers the body’s tolerance for glucose and is a step toward insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Lower Sex Drive. It’s hard to feel aroused when your body is exhausted. In men, the tiredness is compounded by lower testosterone levels. To properly produce testosterone, your body needs 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you wake up regularly throughout the night, your body may not be creating the hormone in sufficient quantities.
Mental Symptoms
Impaired Ability To Learn. While you sleep, your brain forms paths between neurons. This process allows you to remember new pieces of information that you’ve learned. A lack of sleep or poor quality sleep impairs this process, meaning you struggle to retain new information.
Poor Concentration. The neurons not forming pathways and also being exhausted will make it much harder for you to concentrate on tasks. As a result, your problem-solving abilities will not be as good, and you may have trouble thinking creatively.
Emotional Symptoms
Low Mood. Sleep deprivation for a short period can lead to increased irritability and mood swings. In my case, nothing affects my mood more than a bad night’s sleep. Over a prolonged period, the effects of sleep deprivation include both depression and anxiety.
In the case of people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, sleep deprivation can induce a manic period.
Worsens Dementia. Those who have had close contact with a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia will also have noticed that the symptoms tend to get worse if the person is tired.
Hallucinations. If the sleep deprivation becomes severe enough, it can cause a person to hallucinate, even if they have no mental illness of any kind. In extreme cases, it can also cause paranoia and thoughts of suicide.
What Causes Sleep Deprivation?
For the average person, it’s a case of trying to pack in too much every day. I know that life can be tough to juggle. We all have some combination of our significant other, children, family, friends, work, housework, exercise and a little leisure time. It can often seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day! If you’re anything like me, sleep is the part that suffers.
However, there are sleep conditions like insomnia, sleep apnoea, narcolepsy and restless syndrome that can cause difficulties too. If you suspect you may have a sleep disorder, see your doctor. If they think it’s warranted, they can refer you to a sleep clinic for further testing and treatment.
Otherwise, try to make sleep a priority. It’s my goal to get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night going forward, and I’m going to make a list of possible obstacles and how I can overcome them. If this bears fruit, I’ll pop back and let you know. In the meantime, if you have any top tips or other thoughts, please pop them in the comments. The effects of sleep deprivation are no joke, so take action now to protect your health.
