70 million people in the United States regularly go without getting enough sleep. The need for sleep cannot be overstated. Not getting your full seven to eight hours each night can have an impact on everything from your immune system to your cardiovascular system.

The following are some effects of sleep deprivation on your health:

Increased Risk of Illness

Your immune system performs a crucial function, and in order for it to continue functioning properly, it depends on you getting enough rest. Additionally, since sleep deprivation impairs your immune system’s capacity to combat infections from outside the body, you might take longer to recover from illnesses like the flu or the common cold.

Heart Disease

Poor heart health is another side effect of sleep deprivation. In some people, hypertension (high blood pressure) has been linked to sleep deprivation. According to a previous study, women who slept for less than seven hours each night were more likely to experience coronary events than those who slept for eight hours every night. In addition, untreated sleep apnea is linked to stroke, hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Weight Gain

Due to lack of sleep, it is typical for you to feel more hungry than usual. According to studies, sleep deprivation can change your body’s levels of important hormones like ghrelin, leptin, and cortisol.

Thyroid or Hormonal Problems

Your body needs plenty of sleep in order to properly produce hormones through your endocrine system. Lack of sleep can result in abnormal thyroid function and growth hormone release.

It is simple to understand why getting enough sleep every night should be a top priority given the numerous ways in which sleep can affect your health. 

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Sources

Grandner, M. A., Alfonso-Miller, P., Fernandez-Mendoza, J., Shetty, S., Shenoy, S., & Combs, D. (2016). Sleep: important considerations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Current opinion in cardiology, 31(5), 551–565.

https://doi.org/10.1097/HCO.0000000000000324