Are you getting sound sleep every night? Sleep Deprivation can lead to many diseases like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Heart Disease and similar.
Important Health Issues
- Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. Insomnia leads to depression. It is found that people suffering from insomnia are five times more likely to develop depression. Sleep deprivation can make you moody, emotional and short-tempered
- Sleep disorders can lead to memory loss. American and French researchers have found out that brain events called “Sharp Wave Ripples” are responsible for consolidating memory1. The ripples also transfer learned information from the Hippocampus to Neocortex of the brain, where long-term memories are stored. Sharp Wave Ripples occur mostly during deep sleep. Hence for sharp memory, adequate sleep is necessary
- Those who sleep less are prone to gain weight. Studies reveal that people who sleep less than six hours a day are more likely to become obese compared to those who sleep eight to nine hours. It is also found that sleep loss can stimulate craving for high-fat, high-carb foods
- Drivers who are deprived of sleep are more dangerous. Similarly those who suffer from sleep loss are susceptible to work related accidents and injuries
- Sleep loss impairs attention, alertness, concentration, reasoning power. This is more serious in students
- Ageing of skin is another problem related to sleep disorders. Lack of sleep leads to puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes. The stress hormone Cortisol release is more when a person does not get enough sleep. In excess amount, Cortisol can break down Skin Collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic. Sleep loss can also cause the body to release too little human growth hormone
- Of all side-effects, the health problems like Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Stoke, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Irregular Heartbeat are more serious.
- The Central Nervous System, Immune System, Respiratory System, Digestive System, Cardiovascular System, Endocrine System are all affected due to continuous sleeplessness or sleep disorders
Recommendation
A healthy sleep is for about eight hours a day. Getting sleep less than seven hours a day continuously can lead to health hazards. Disturbed sleep is also of great concern. The human body requires proper rest and sleep just like it requires food and oxygen.
Some people do not get proper sleep when their stomach is full. On the other hand, some others are unable to sleep when their stomach is not full. I have seen both types of people. It is advised that one should finish dinner at least two hours before going to bed for proper digestion. Otherwise it can lead to gastric problems as well. Bowel movement may be disturbed or you may feel constipation due to improper digestion.
1Reference: WebMD.com
