In our increasingly busy lives, sleep often becomes a casualty of daily demands. Recent studies highlight the serious consequences of chronic sleep deprivation. When the body does not get enough rest, cognitive functions such as memory and decision-making decline, while mood disorders such as anxiety and depression become more common. Read on to know how you can improve your sleep cycle.
What happens to your body when you don’t get enough sleep? (Image: iStock)
In today’s fast-paced world, sleep often takes a back seat due to the demands of work, social life and endless to-do lists. However, not getting enough sleep can have a significant impact on your physical and mental state health. Lack of adequate rest affects the brain’s ability to function, leading to decreased cognitive skills, memory problems and mood swings. Sleep is an essential biological activity that helps the body and brain recharge, keeping them cognitively sharp and physically healthy. When we don’t get enough sleep, we put ourselves at risk for a range of negative consequences that affect almost every aspect of our physical and mental health.
We contacted Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, explaining how insufficient sleep can affect our body.
Sleep deprivation And Brain function
Dr. Rakesh Gupta explains that lack of sleep negatively affects the brain. During sleep, the brain eliminates metabolic waste products that accumulate during alertness. Inadequate sleep causes a buildup of these neurotoxins, which impair cognitive abilities such as focus, decision-making, problem-solving and creativity.
Sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation. Inadequate sleep impairs the brain’s ability to successfully store new information in memory, while weakening existing memories over time. A lack of sleep can disrupt learning, focus and productivity.
Impact on physical and mental health
Dr. Rakesh Gupta explains that sleep is necessary for physical recovery and healing in the body. Insufficient sleep affects the body in the following ways:
– Sleep is essential for the immune system’s ability to fight viruses and diseases.
– Chronic sleep deprivation makes people more susceptible to ailments and recovery takes longer.
– Sleep also modulates appetite and the hormones responsible for hunger and fullness.
– Sleep-deprived people have higher levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite, and lower levels of leptin, the hormone that suppresses appetite. This hormonal imbalance can cause overeating and weight gain.
– Chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to a number of other health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and even an increased risk of certain malignancies.
– Without proper sleep, the body’s metabolic systems become disrupted, resulting in poor overall health. Mental health implications
– In addition to cognitive disadvantages, sleep deprivation has a significant impact on mental and emotional health. Insufficient sleep increases the risk of developing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. It worsens symptoms in those already dealing with mental health issues.
– Sleep helps the brain process emotional information and keep stress levels well under control. When the brain is deprived of sleep, it becomes oversensitive to negative stimuli and emotional events, resulting in increased irritability, mood swings, feelings of overload, and difficulty coping with the daily stresses of life.
How can you improve your sleep cycle?
To avoid the negative consequences of sleep loss, doctors recommend following the basic rules of sleep hygiene. This involves:
– Sticking to a regular sleep schedule, creating a relaxing sleep environment, avoiding stimulants such as caffeine before bed, and turning off technological gadgets.
– Most adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to function properly.
– While a missed night of sleep is unavoidable, persistent sleep loss should be treated immediately.
– If insomnia or other sleep problems persist, you should consult a doctor, as insufficient sleep can have a negative effect on overall health and quality of life if left untreated.