Lack Of Sleep Can Be The Cause Of More Serious Health Issues
There are many reasons for sleep deprivation and it can be due to a variety of factors, such as stress, major life events, depression, anxiety, excitement and/ or a relative health issue to name a few. Lack of sleep can also be the cause of certain health-related issues.
Too Much Sleep Can Also Be A Problem
In addition to insomnia and lack of sleep, too much sleep can be a cause of health problems or the result of underlying health issues. Of course, too much sleep can be due to a lifestyle of getting up too late or “sleeping in”.
It is practically impossible to die from sleep deprivation in itself. But symptoms of sleep deprivation, such as lack of focus and slow reaction time, can have fatal consequences. For example, it can affect your ability to safely drive an automobile.
Constant sleep deprivation can also affect your body’s ability to regulate stress hormones. Chronic stress can contribute to a heart attack over time. Lack of sleep can even lead to bad habits such as eating lots of junk food and not eating healthy. Which in turn can lead to weight gain and health problems.
How Can Lack Of Sleep Affect Your Work Day
Lack of sleep can increase the likelihood of falling ill, and reduce your ability to be present and effective at work. It can cause you to lose focus in an important meeting. Affecting how you understand and respond to questions and things being discussed. Potentially keeping you from being your best subconsciously.
Not sleeping well can affect your creativity factor. By not sleeping well your focus, energy and memory are not as sharp as it could be. Therefore, holding you back from creating your best work.
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It can zap your energy. Causing you to “drag” throughout your workday. And looking like a bump on a log is not a good look for work! These are just a few of the ways lack of sleep can affect your workday. Not to forget, it can also cause you to “call-in” miss a workday and lose money because of it!!
If your focus and problem-solving skills are impaired by sleep deprivation. You could expose yourself to accident risk and cause a long-term impact on your performance at work. It is also common for people who experience sleep disturbances to make mistakes. Which can cause great harm, especially in professions that require quick and important decisions.
Serious Potential Health Effects Of Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation can inhibit the production of cytokines in the body and make you more susceptible to disease. Immune system disorders are a major cause of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Lack of sleep impedes the optimal function of the circadian rhythm and impairs the overall function of the body. Lack of sleep can cause a person to develop bad habits such as sleeping late, watching TV before bed and eating too much before bed. Those habits could then, in turn, interfere with your sleep.
How Much Sleep Do I Need?
How much sleep you need changes as you age.
| Age Group | Recommended Hours of Sleep Per Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 0–3 months | 14–17 hours (National Sleep Foundation)1 No recommendation (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)2 |
| Infant | 4–12 months | 12–16 hours per 24 hours (including naps)2 |
| Toddler | 1–2 years | 11–14 hours per 24 hours (including naps)2 |
| Preschool | 3–5 years | 10–13 hours per 24 hours (including naps)2 |
| School Age | 6–12 years | 9–12 hours per 24 hours2 |
| Teen | 13–18 years | 8–10 hours per 24 hours2 |
| Adult | 18–60 years | 7 or more hours per night3 |
| 61–64 years | 7–9 hours1 | |
| 65 years and older | 7–8 hours1 |
Conclusion
Lack of sleep can affect mental health and mood. It can contribute to anxiety and can lead to more sleep deprivation. This is a vicious cycle that can lead to depression, insomnia and other health issues. So it’s best to get enough sleep. Goodnight.
