Many people consider puffy and dark under-eye circles as the worst consequence of their sleep-deprived lifestyle; however, they are just the tip of an iceberg. Since those changes are on our face, they are so easy to notice, but also easy to cover with a dash of makeup. What we do not see right away is what sleep deprivation is doing to the rest of our body, inside and out. So today, we are going to point out the negative consequences of sleep deprivation.

Looking Older

If you thought that beauty sleep is a myth, you were wrong. Healthy sleep routine is one of the reasons why many people look so fresh and young. During sleep, our body produces a higher amount of growth hormone and restores all the cells in our body, which works like a process of rejuvenation for our skin and muscles. With short sleep, we do not get that, which is why our skin tends to look pale, grayish, and tired.

Psychiatric Disorders

In extreme cases of chronic sleep loss, there is a risk of developing mental disorders. It was believed that psychiatric problems trigger sleep issues since almost all patients experience some difficulties with their sleep. But it seems that it can also go the other way around since sleep-deprived people can go through the pendulum of elevated emotions. Their symptoms can resemble those of schizophrenia and include hallucinations, paranoia, disorientation, etc.

Decreased Fertility

Not only that lack of sleep lowers libido, but it also has a devastating impact on people who are trying to conceive. The production of reproductive hormones is regulated by the same parts of the brain, which controls our circadian rhythm. Sleeping less than seven hours lowers the level of testosterone and other hormones which control ovulation.

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Memory Impairment

Our attention and memory are also suffering when we are not getting enough sleep, which can lead to even fatal consequences if we are, for example driving. However, with only one night of adequate sleep, our memory can be improved, which shows how powerful sleep is.

Weight Gain

Lack of sleep can increase our appetite. When we are sleep-deprived, our body produces less hormone called leptin, which is in charge of our feeling of satiety, and more ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone. Due to changes in our appetite, many people who regularly sleep less often experience weight gain and have an increased risk of diabetes.

Weak Immune System

While we are sleeping, our body is working and producing protective substances like cytokines, which are responsible for fighting with different bacteria and viruses. Lack of sleep is preventing the optimal production of these substances and weakening our immune system, making us more prone to various infections and diseases.

How many hours do you sleep daily?

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