The price of lost sleep: How sleep deprivation harms your body

Oct 22, 2024

By: BI India Bureau

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Vital rest

Sleep is an essential element for the physical and mental well-being of the human body. It helps repair tissues, strengthen immunity and regulate hormones. Insufficient sleep impacts these processes and can lead to serious health consequences.

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Mood changes

Lack of quality sleep leads to irritability, anxiety and increased mood swings. A regular pattern of insufficient sleep can hamper your daily life and activities.

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Weakened immune system

When you sleep, your body boosts the production of cytokines, which are proteins that are responsible for fighting infections. Sleep deprivation can cause a direct hit on the production of these, ultimately weakening your immune system.

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Hormonal imbalance

Lack of sleep triggers a stress response in the body that in turn increases the production of cortisol in the body. This spike in cortisol can negatively impact the hormonal balance in the body, affecting everything from your energy levels to your appetite.

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Impaired cognitive function

Not getting enough sleep can make it hard to focus, remember things, and learn new information. It can mess with how your brain processes information, which can shorten your attention span and make it harder to make decisions.

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Disrupted circadian rhythm

Circadian rhythm is your body’s internal clock that regulates mental and physical changes in your body. Lack of sleep can negatively disrupt your circadian rhythm, resulting in a dip in your energy levels, and performance leading to poor quality of sleep, etc.

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Increased stress

Lack of sleep puts your body into a state of stress that increases the production of the stress hormone cortisol.

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Weight gain

According to harvard.edu, sleep deprivation increases ghrelin levels, stimulating appetite, while lowering leptin, which signals fullness. This hormonal imbalance can lead to overeating and weight gain.

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Increased risk of chronic diseases

Inadequate sleep negatively impacts your body’s immune, nervous and circulatory system, increasing the risk of chronic diseases.

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Higher risk of mental health issues

Research indicates that lack of sleep alters brain function, leading to difficulties in decision-making, problem-solving and emotional regulation. It is also associated with depression, suicidal thoughts and risky behaviours.

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