The 8 Health Consequences Of Not Sleeping Well

Not only does not sleep well make us feel tired and grumpy, but it also adds difficulties in every way. That is why it is difficult for us to perform various activities, concentrate, think clearly and even manage our thoughts and emotions. And it is that although it may not seem like it, the consequences of not having had adequate rest go beyond fatigue and the typical headache.

Scientific studies are increasingly showing that poor sleep can greatly affect well-being. Therefore, we must give due importance to night rest and not shorten it more than it should, much less skip it. The ideal is always to bet on a restful sleep, which not only gives us rest but also health.

The importance of a good night’s rest

A person must sleep between 7 and 8 hours a day to maintain an optimal physical, emotional and mental state. However, today’s lifestyle changes have greatly impaired the quality of sleep and the ideal time to rest.

Many times people do not prioritize their night’s rest because they have the idea that by sleeping less they “make more use of their time” and “manage to be more effective” in their activities. However, sooner or later lack of sleep takes a toll on health.

Discover: 10 tips to sleep well and wake up fresh

Consequences of not sleeping well

According to a study entitled “Effects of acute and chronic sleep deprivation”, the consequences of not sleeping well can be seen in different ways. Let’s see them below.

The urge to overeat, anxiety, and obesity

Lack of sleep is related to the desire to eat excessively. Especially at night when the metabolism slows down. In addition, hormones such as ghrelin and leptin, which regulate appetite, change their levels considerably.

Also, when we don’t get enough sleep, we are more likely to want to eat more fast food.  Even when we don’t really feel hungry. Due to this, we increase the consumption of calories and carbohydrates, which will make us gain weight more easily.

Weakening of the immune system

When we do not have a good night’s sleep and we prevent the body from resting well, the immune system weakens. This means that defenses are lowered. As a consequence, we are more prone to flu, colds, and respiratory infections. Therefore, not sleeping well will lead us to get sick more easily.

Less physical attractiveness

There is no doubt that a good night’s sleep is key to looking better physically and staying in shape. In fact, when we don’t sleep well, we look more down, withered, and even aged than we really should be.

In the long term, not sleeping well leaves traces on the skin, especially in the face area. In addition, it can be a cause of premature aging. For this reason, do not miss those 7-8 hours a day of rest.

Uncontrolled emotions

According to the scientific literature, when we do not sleep well, the emotional regions of the brain are more active. There may be an increase of up to 60%. This causes us to have more uncontrolled and inappropriate reactions. This can make our family and social life difficult and lead to alterations of the nervous system.

Cognitive and brain impairment

Going just one night without sleep can lead to the weakening and loss of brain tissue. This is calculated by  the blood levels of two brain molecules, which are usually increased  by brain damage.

The fact of not getting enough rest and having a poor restful sleep influences the ability to concentrate and makes us more forgetful and clueless. In turn, this problem can affect learning ability and concept retention.

Lastly, in the long run, poor sleep and poor sleep habits can increase your risk of having a stroke. Especially in adults and the elderly.

Increased risk of cancer

Although it may seem like it has nothing to do with it, in reality, people who do not sleep well are at higher risk for colorectal polyps. These can be malignant over time.

As this study indicates, the risk of suffering from this disease increases with insomnia problems. In addition,   prostate and breast cancer are cited . 

Increased risk of having an accident

People who do not get to sleep at least 6 hours a day, triple the risk of having an accident with their car by driving drowsy and tired. The cause would be problems in eye coordination.

It should be noted that even if you do not have some type of vehicle, you could still be exposed to suffer other types of accidents because you will be slower and more clumsy. 

Higher risk of heart disease and shorter life expectancy

Lack of good sleep is linked to increased hypertension, blocked arteries, and heart problems. Therefore, for good cardiovascular health, it is advisable to rest well.

As we have seen, sleeping well is synonymous with quality of life and well-being, and people who sleep less than 7-8 hours a day have a higher risk of dying at an early age compared to those who always try to sleep well as well as maintain a healthy life style.