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Sleep Deprivation and Its Ill Effects

Sleep Deprivation and Its Ill Effects

He lay tucked in his bed into the oblivion of his thoughts. With the room lit by fading light from the street lamp standing across the big empty yard, he lay there still, staring at the shadow peeking through the window. It was just another night of sleeplessness.

Most people often fail to get enough sleep. We are burning our candles from both sides eventually. We work our socks off in the morning and then stay up all night to study or have fun. But little do we realize that lack of sleep has both short-term and long-term consequences.

Sleep deprivation is a growing concern, and we need to be more vigilant about managing this condition. A night of tossing and turning can make you grumpy and cranky the next day. Binge-watching your favorite shows may light up your night, but it can lead to several health concerns you need to be wary of.

Still not convinced?

Let us take a look at some common ill effects of sleep deprivation.

1. Learning Capability

Learning CapabilityGetting proper sleep is one of the most important aspects of a healthy life. It plays a crucial part in learning and thinking. A lackluster sleep can impair your attention, concentration, alertness, and reasoning. If you have an important class or meeting the next day, you must get a good sleep. Also, when you are sleeping, your brain consolidates memories. In a nutshell, lack of sleep dumbs you down. It may not look like it, but it significantly impacts the learning capability of a person.

2. Severe Health Concerns

Do you choose to fiddle with your thoughts at night rather than get a rested sleep?

If yes, then you must consider otherwise. A sleep-deprived person is susceptible to several health conditions like heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and irregular heartbeat. Let me hit you with a fact – 90% of people who have insomnia (a sleep disorder) also suffer from another health condition. There are so many distractions that might pull you away from your sleep, but if you want to remain fit and healthy, you must get regular sleep and rest. Cannabis has proven to be quite useful in helping patients get better sleep. With amedical marijuana card, you can get the cannabis legally and manage your sleep cycle more effectively. Several studies now prove that cannabinoids help regulate sleep cycles.

3. Mood Disorders

Mood DisordersAre mood swings your latest charm?

That can probably be because you haven’t got a good night’s sleep. We tend to burn our midnight oil while we must be giving our body and mind the rest it needs. Sleep deprivation often makes a person irritable and moody. When we think of mood disorders, we believe that it to be a short-term condition, but that is not the case. Chronic lack of sleep may lead to long-term mood disorders. These often relate to mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress. All of these symptoms prove to fade away when people return to an adequate and healthy sleep schedule.

4. Obesity

Yes! If you don’t get proper sleep, you may not be able to fit into your favorite pair of jeans. A growing body of research suggests that sleep deprivation increases the chances of becoming obese. Several reasons govern this, one being sleep-deprived people often are too tired to exercise. It also affects the balance of certain hormones that control your appetite. You might end up eating more if you don’t sleep enough. And obesity is something you should not take lightly. It further leads to several health issues.

5. Sex Drive:

interest in sexWorried?

This is true! Lack of sleep can reduce your interest in sex. Now, do you realize the worth of getting a good 7-8 hours sleep?

Sleep deprivation causes fatigue, tiredness, and low energy. This affects your libido, in turn affecting your sex life. Lack of sleep often results in stress and anxiety, which comprehends sexual dysfunction in people. When in stress, the brain suppresses the production of hormones like testosterone and estrogen, which directly affects your sex drive. The relationship between sex life and sleep is much deeper than their connection to a bed. Both complement each other perfectly.

6. Diabetes & Blood Pressure

“Early to bed and early to rise.” A phrase that is long forgotten. We toil the whole day, our body and mind require optimum rest to get rejuvenated for working hard again tomorrow. And if we are unable to give our body the sleep it needs, we might suffer from high blood pressure and sugar levels. Lack of sleep lowers the production of insulin, a hormone that balances sugar levels in the body. This leaves people more susceptible to Type 2 Diabetes.

We have just scraped the surface. Sleep deprivation can lead to several more health problems, and it is time we stop rolling our eyes over the fact and act to manage it effectively. There are several treatments available to improve sleep patterns like therapies, conventional medications, and even state-approved medical marijuana programs. But it is essential that we look for treatment and not neglect it like we often do. About time we show it the respect and attention our body deserves. Even small changes in your lifestyle can help. Let’s strive for a healthier tomorrow.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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