Negative Impacts of Sleep Loss on Health

Everyone is well aware of how it feels to occasionally wake up tired. Unfortunately for some, this occurs on more than one occasion. Consistent sleep loss has negative impacts on both physical and mental health. Although you may know the importance of getting enough sleep, you may not know the extent to which a lack of sleep can harm you. This article explains the negative impacts of sleep loss on physical and mental health.

Negative Impacts on Physical Health

The NCBI defines sleep loss as less than 7 hours per night. The first negative effect of sleep loss on physical health is that it can lead to obesity in adults and children. A study of more than 1,000 adults found a relationship between sleep loss and an increased appetite. A lack of sleep leads to lower levels of a hormone that decreases appetite. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone that increases appetite. The second negative effect of sleep loss is diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance, which occurs when glucose levels rise higher and longer than normal. The third negative effect of sleep loss is heart disease and hypertension. For example, the NCBI explained that sleep loss is associated with heart attacks and strokes.

Negative Impacts on Mental Health

The NCBI also talked about the negative impacts of sleep loss on mental health, including anxiety, depression, and alcohol use. They cited a study of over 3,000 high school students that found a relationship between a lack of sleep and an increase in the following: depression levels, anxiety, behavior problems, alcohol use, and attempted suicide. A study of middle school students reported similar results, including depression and lower self-esteem.

DREAMit: a solution for sleep loss

If you have trouble getting 7 hours or more of sleep each night, include DREAMit in your nighttime routine. This natural solution for sleep helps prevent the negative impacts on physical and mental health caused by sleep loss.

Negative Impacts of Sleep Loss on Health