Sleep
5 effects of lack of sleep on our body
Photo de Marcus Aurelius: PEXELS
Sleep
5 effects of lack of sleep on our body
Lack of sleep can harm your body in the short term. Over time, it can lead to chronic health problems and have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Hope Bastine, psychologist and sleep expert-resident at Simba, reveals the effects of sleep deprivation on your body.
1. WEAKENING OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
When you sleep, your immune system produces protective cytokines, antibodies and infection-fighting cells. It uses these to fight off foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. At the same time, these cytokines and other protective elements also help you sleep to give your immune system more energy to defend itself against disease.
If you don't get enough sleep, your immune system can't properly rebuild its strength. Studies show that if you don't get enough sleep, it's more likely that your body won't be able to fight off invaders. It may also take you longer to recover from an illness.
2. FERTILITY PROBLEMS
A lack of sleep can affect male fertility. In 2013, researchers at the University of Southern Denmark found that young men who suffered from sleep disorders had 25% lower sperm counts than young men who got more sleep. The sperm quality of individuals who suffered from sleep disorders and slept less than six hours per night was also lower.
Similarly, many women who are trying to conceive may not realize that there is a link between fertility and lack of sleep. The hormone leptin plays an important role in ovulation. Women need adequate sleep to produce leptin properly. Leptin deficiency can disrupt menstrual cycles.
3. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
People who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation may be at greater risk of developing high blood pressure or worsening existing high blood pressure. Sleep is thought to help the blood regulate stress hormones and promote a healthy nervous system. Over time, a lack of sleep could interfere with your body's ability to regulate stress hormones, resulting in high blood pressure.
3. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
People who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation may be at greater risk of developing high blood pressure or worsening existing high blood pressure. Sleep is thought to help the blood regulate stress hormones and promote a healthy nervous system. Over time, a lack of sleep could interfere with your body's ability to regulate stress hormones, resulting in high blood pressure.
4. SKIN PROBLEMS
A good night's sleep can contribute to skin health because when you lack sleep, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. Increased levels of cortisol can lead to inflammation and increased stress in the body, which affects the quality of your skin.
The increase in inflammatory cells in the body leads to accelerated breakdown of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which are molecules that give your skin its suppleness, radiance and translucency.
5. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT ISSUES
The amount of rest you get each night doesn't just affect your mood and productivity the next day. Researchers have found that sleep deprivation can also affect basic metabolic functions. A lack of sleep can slow down your metabolism, which contributes to weight management issues.
The moral of the story, make sure you get enough sleep. For an adult, the average number of hours is 7 to 9 hours.
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