Sleep deprivation can cause damage to your body in the short term. Over time, it can lead to chronic health problems and negatively impact your overall quality of life.
Weakened immune system:
When you’re asleep, your immune system produces protective cytokines and infection-fighting antibodies and cells. It uses these to fend off foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. At the same time, these cytokines and other protective substances also help you sleep, giving the immune system more energy to defend against illness.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, your immune system doesn’t have the same chance to rebuild its forces. Studies show that if you don’t get enough sleep, it’s more likely that your body won’t be able to fend off invaders. It may also take you longer to recover from illness.
Fertility Issues
Men who get too little sleep may be damaging their fertility. In 2013, Scientists from the University of Southern Denmark found that young men who suffered disturbed sleep had sperm counts that were more than a quarter lower than those who slept more. Those who suffered disturbed sleep with less than six hours a night also had lower sperm quality.
Similarly, many women who are trying to conceive may not realise there is a link between fertility and sleep deprivation. A special hormone called Leptin affects ovulation. Women need adequate sleep for proper leptin production. When leptin production is compromised, menstrual cycles can be disrupted.
High blood pressure
People who are sleep deprived may be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure or worsening existing high blood pressure. It's thought that sleep assists your blood regulate stress hormones and helps your nervous system to remain healthy. Over time, a lack of sleep could hurt your body's ability to regulate stress hormones, leading to high blood pressure.
Affects your skin health
If there’s another good reason to take sleep more seriously, it’s this. Studies have shown sleep deprivation could cause your skin to age faster.
A good night's sleep can aid good skin health because when you’re sleep-deprived, your body makes more of the stress hormone cortisol. Increased levels of cortisol can lead to heightened stress and inflammation in the body, harming your skin’s quality.
Increased inflammatory cells in the body lead to an increase in the breakdown of collagen and hyaluronic acid, the molecules that give the skin its bounce, glow and translucency.
Weight issues
The amount of rest you get each night doesn’t only affect your mood and productivity the next day. Researchers have found that sleep loss can also affect the basic metabolic functions. A lack of sleep can slow down the metabolism contributing to weight management issues.
