Physical Effects of Sleep Deprivation

According to the National Sleep Association, 47 million adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep, putting them at risk for suffering the physical effects of sleep deprivation.

Look for the signs of sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation occurs when a person does not sleep long enough to let the body rest and regenerate. This can lead to serious physical conditions that have short-term and long-term effects on the body. If the body continually gets too little sleep in the long-term, life-threatening conditions can also occur.

Most of us have felt the common physical effects of sleep deprivation. Droopy eyes, weakness and irritability are all symptoms expected from lack of sleep. Some short-term affects are less easily identified and can be dangerous if combined with machinery or a moving vehicle. They include the inability to problem solve or make decisions, hallucinations, slower reaction times, disorientation, falling asleep, and tremors. People who don’t get enough sleep can get sick more easily. With less sleep, the body is unable to produce white cells as well as it should, making the immune system more vulnerable to attack.

Usually, these physical conditions can be resolved by simply taking a nap or by getting the proper amount of sleep at bedtime.

If sleep deprivation is not solved, the body can manifest long-term, serious conditions. Many of these cannot be solved by simply getting more sleep.

Obesity is a sneaky long-term effect of not sleeping enough. It is caused by the body producing too little of the hormone leptin. Leptin is what makes a person feel full after eating and triggers the need to stop eating. If the body doesn’t have enough of this hormone it will constantly crave foods that are high in carbs, making a person much more likely to overeat. This, of course, can lead to weight gain according to studies done by University of Chicago researchers.

Researchers of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that women who sleep five hours or less have a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

The Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Denver found that seniors with insomnia were 17 times more likely to remain depressed as opposed to those who did get adequate sleep. Harvard psychiatry professor Robert Stickgold's research goes even further to suggest that sleep deprivation can causes a variety of major psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder and ADHD.

A study in the online edition of the journal Hypertension found that out of the 4,800 men and women studied those that got five hours of sleep or less were around 60 percent more likely to develop hypertension. Another study published in the journal Circulation found teens that slept six and a half hours or less doubled their risk of getting hypertension.

The University of Chicago Medical Center discovered that lack of sleep could interfere with the body's regulation of sugar metabolism and insulin production. This can make a person more likely to develop diabetes.

The best way to avoid the effects of sleep deprivation is to sleep. There are several ways to get a better night’s sleep without the use of medications.

Some find it helpful to go to bed at the same time every night and awake at the same time every day. This sets the body’s internal clock, giving it consistent times to expect sleep. It can also be helpful to avoid any overstimulation of any kind before bed. A calming ritual before bed can also help to promote healthy sleeping patterns.

If a person has tried continually and unsuccessfully to get more sleep or seems to get enough sleep but still feels the effects of sleep deprivation, these symptoms may be the cause of a sleeping disorder such as sleep apnea. A doctor should be consulted for more information and testing to avoid the long-term physical effects of sleep deprivation.

• Sleep Requirements by Age
• Sleep Apnea Full Face Masks
• Foods Containing L-Tryptophan
• Why Is Sleep Important

• Pure Sleep
• Melatonin Forums
• How to Put Someone to Sleep
• Stop Snoring Mouthpiece
• How Long Can You Live Without Sleep

• Sleep Deprivation and Reaction Time
• Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation
• Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain
• Signs of Sleep Deprivation
• Effects of Lack of Sleep