Chronic sleep deprivation is a slow killer, and you may not see its adverse effects for a while. Having a busy lifestyle contributes to stress and sleep disorders, Here is why your Rockville CPAP specialist recommends seeking immediate medical attention when you have the condition.
Below are six negative impacts associated with chronic sleep deprivation:
- Coronary disease
People who consistently sleep less or have a poor-quality sleep for one reason stand a high chance of suffering heart ailments like a heart attack or heart failure. You could be living in a noisy neighborhood, working two jobs and barely having sleep time, or suffering from sleep apnea. Whatever the reason, you must solve the sleep deprivation problem before developing coronary problems.
- Poor balance
Not sleeping enough can affect the balance and coordination of your legs, thus making you prone to slips and falls. People of advanced age are already susceptible to falls, and their bones are more brittle. If you suspect that your elderly loved one is sleep-deprived, have them see a specialist sooner rather than later.
- Diabetes
When the body is not well-rested, essential functions like insulin regulation do not go as planned. Your immune system continues to suffer due to poor-quality sleep so much that it cannot fend off viruses and bacteria. Diabetes is a likely outcome for a person who does not sleep enough, and this disease can pave the way for other health conditions.
- Memory impairment
Sleeping well allows the brain to rest and lock in the information you will need later. Failure to sleep well makes it harder to recall critical things as the short and long-term memory is impaired. Students will find it harder to remember concepts they learned in class, affecting their performance. Lack of enough sleep can also impact mundane tasks like driving, which can yield catastrophic results.
- Adding weight
If you are not getting adequate sleep per night or whatever time slot you have allocated for sleeping, the chances are that you will gain weight. The body reduces leptin and increases ghrelin. Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells and circulates in the bloodstream. This “starvation hormone” alerts your brain when enough energy is in your fat cells to participate in metabolism. When leptin production goes below your average threshold, your brain assumes you are hungry. Therefore, sleep deprivation can make one eat more and inadvertently gain weight.
- Skin problems
Research studies derive that people who get inadequate sleep have more skin-related issues than their counterparts who get enough sleep. You will find the former group has more wrinkling, fine lines, and loose skin. Some people turn to cosmetic treatments like Botox injections to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines, but this does not address the root cause. You are better off mastering the art of good sleep.
Sleep deprivation has many adverse impacts, and the symptoms are not usually present right away. It may take a while before you realize how lack of sleep contributes to health problems. If you suffer from sleep apnea or related disorders, seek professional help from certified physicians.
