Many scientists recommend getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day, while others say 6 to 7 hours is enough. Still others say you should sleep as much as you need to feel rested upon waking, even if it's only 6 hours
But this isn't the topic I want to discuss here. In fact, I'd like to talk about what happens if we don't get enough sleep. By doing so, the importance of sleep will become clear.
Please note that the sources for this article are
HealthLine, NHLBI, Sleep Foundation1, Sleep Foundation2, Comprehensive Sleep Care Center, Mayo Clinic, Kidney, NINDS, REID Health
Sleep is very similar to how we recharge after a full day of work. However, getting less sleep than we should doesn't actually add more waking hours; instead, it negatively affects all aspects of our health.
Not Getting Enough Sleep is Equal to...
The nervous system is one of the most important factors negatively affected by a lack of sleep. When we don't sleep as much as we should, our nerve cells don't communicate with each other as they should, and many of our mental abilities are negatively impacted. One study found that during sleep, the brain cleanses itself of toxins acquired while awake.
Consequently, mental abilities are severely affected by a lack of sleep. To be realistic, mental abilities are an essential part of our lives; they are truly who we are.
Examples of mental abilities include thinking, concentration, memory, mood, perception, motor skills, movement, and so on.
Weight Gain
Research has found that sleep affects weight (gaining it, losing it, or maintaining it).
It is now known that sleep is strongly linked to weight and metabolism, regardless of eating more snacks and drinking sugary beverages. Some people have experienced daily weight gain when they sleep less, which happened to me.
Therefore, weight gain is one of the negative effects of a lack of sleep.
The Immune System
Sleep is also linked to the mechanism of recovering from illness. When we get viruses and become sick, our immune system does its best to recover. And sleep is an integral part of this recovery journey.
This is because during sleep, the immune system releases beneficial cytokines when infected and/or inflamed. And then, a lack of sleep leads to a decrease in the production of these cytokines, which causes defects in the immune system and a longer recovery time.
Risks to the Heart, Kidneys, and Diabetes
A lack of sleep can cause heart failure. One study found that a lack of sleep will eventually lead to heart failure, such as heart attacks, strokes, irregular heart rate, sudden spikes, and even chest pain.
Sleep also regulates the function of the kidneys, and a lack of sleep will, at one stage or another, lead to a deterioration of kidney function.
Cortisol production also increases because it is the hormone responsible for keeping our bodies awake. And when it is produced, it will also lead to an increase in blood sugar levels. And increased blood sugar levels combined with eating more (especially unhealthy foods) over time will lead to an increased risk of developing diabetes.
Therefore, in the long run, a lack of sleep can and will lead to an increased risk of unbearable diseases because the brain and body work during sleep to recover and revive themselves. This leads to an acceleration of the aging process, which will be unavoidable.
So, when balancing a lack of sleep and health, which one wins?
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