If you were to take an honest-to-goodness, unfiltered, unrehearsed “woke up like this” selfie, what would you look like?
Do you look fresh and rested? Or do you look like you haven’t slept the night at all?
How you wake up in the morning is a tell-tale sign of how much sleep you actually got and the quality of rest you’ve had. Sleep deprivation goes beyond more than just waking up feeling groggy or grumpy. Not getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep actually affects your body for the long haul. Your mental functions decline and your physical health takes a nosedive. There are enough scientific studies available on Google to convince you that sleep deprivation is real and is the source of many kinds of health problems.
Here are 11 of the most dangerous effects of sleep deprivation:
- Accidents
Drowsiness can put you at risk for accidents on the road or injuries due to poor alertness and other causes.
- Memory issues
When asleep, your brain forms neural connections that help you digest and recall new information. Not getting enough sleep negatively affects both your short and long term memory capacity.
- Difficulty with thinking and concentration
Sleep deprivation can cloud your concentration, creativity and problem-solving skills.
- Mood changes
You probably already know this – not getting enough rest makes a person grumpy in the morning. However, these mood changes can get more serious if unresolved and may turn into anxiety or depression.
- Weakened immunity
Too little sleep weakens your immune system and may put you vulnerable to various diseases.
- High blood pressure
Sleeping less than 5 hours a night puts you at greater risk for developing high blood pressure.
- Weight gain
Sleep deprivation throws your body’s chemical signals off balance, including the ones that tell you you’re already satiated. In effect, you are more likely to overeat if you didn’t get enough sleep.
- Risk for diabetes
Lack of sleep affects your body’s insulin release. People who don’t get enough sleep have been found to have higher blood sugar levels and are at greater risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes.
- Risk of heart disease
Poor sleep habits as mentioned above may induce high blood pressure, as well as increase your body’s chemicals that promote inflammation – both top notch role-players in heart disease.
- Poor balance
Sleep deprivation can affect your coordination and balance, thus making you more prone to physical accidents.
- Low sex drive
People who don’t get enough sleep often have lower libido.
This list has been adapted from Healthline.com. Read expanded original article here.
Do you suffer from any of the effects mentioned above? How did this list help you rethink your sleep patterns? Let us know in the comments below!