TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Why lack of sleep can put your health at risk
Change Size
Sleeping for only several hours a night can make you feel uncomfortable the day after. Among the symptoms are all-day drowsiness, weakness, a lack of focus and irritability. (Shutterstock/Photographee.eu)
S
leeping for only several hours a night can make you feel uncomfortable the day after. Among the symptoms are all-day drowsiness, weakness, a lack of focus and irritability.
If the habit continues over a long period of time, your health will eventually be at risk.
Below are some examples of the risks a lack of sleep can have on your health, as compiled by kompas.com:
Obesity
A lack of sleep can lead to an increased risk of obesity. According to data from the World Obesity, food intake levels are tied to sleep duration, meaning that we will eat more if we cut our sleep hours because our body needs energy to function during the day.
Moreover, during sleeping hours, our body releases hormones, including ghrelin and leptin. Our appetite can be managed if both hormones are in a balanced state, but a lack of sleep will automatically result in an imbalance of hormones.
Type 2 diabetes
Poor sleeping habits will increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, as it affects how glucose works in the body. Shortening your sleeping hours will affect the body’s ability to effectively process glucose to maintain blood sugar levels.
Heart disease and hypertension
Hypertension is also connected to a lack of sleep, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Furthermore, sleeping less than five hours or more than nine hours will increase the risk of coronary artery disease, especially in women.
Read also: Lack of sleep unhealthy for your social life: Study
Mood swings
Staying awake all night can lead to irritability the next day. If this type of behavior continues, it can lead to depression, anxiety and mental stress.
Research shows that people who sleep only four to five hours a night may feel more stressed and sad. Those who lose sleep also tend to be less optimistic.
Immune system
When we are sick, it is often advised that we get proper rest, which helps the body to strengthen the immune system and fight against infection during sickness.
As fighting an infection forces the body to work, it is understandable that you may feel sleepy afterward, hence your body will use the resting time to reenergize.
Declining skin health
Your skin health will also be affected if you stay awake at night. Sleeping prevents dark circles from forming under your eyes and wrinkles.
According to Cosmopolitan, sleep is connected to your skin’s pH levels, which, when imbalanced, can influence moisture production and lead to skin problems such as breakouts and redness.
Finding time to sleep
To prevent a lack of sleep, allow yourself to sleep earlier in the night by reducing caffeine consumption in the evening and putting your smartphone away – its light disrupts sleep rhythms and smartphone content stimulates the brain, keeping you awake. (wir/kes)
