The effects of sleep deprivation have been well studied.
Sleep deficiency is also linked to a higher chance of injury in adults, teens, and children.
Sleep deprivation can happen in one night or over weeks, months, or even years.
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How Much Sleep Do I Need?
Older adults (age 65 and up) may only need seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
Not getting the sleep you need negatively affects your physical and mental health in several ways.
You’ll feel some of these effects right away, but others may not show up for years.
What Is Sleep Debt?
This may have important health consequences as the debt builds.
Research has shown that driving when sleep-deprived can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
In addition, people who haveepilepsyare at a higher risk for seizures when they are sleep-deprived.
Pain
You might be more likely to feel pain when you’re sleep-deprived.
Sometimes, people with ongoing pain that stems from sleep deprivation are diagnosed withfibromyalgiaor other chronic pain conditions.
Hormones that follow acircadian patternare the most likely to be affected by sleep.
For example, kids who don’t get enough sleep may have problems with their growth.
Growth hormone is secreted duringslow-wave sleep.
In children, this kind of sleep is common in the early part of the night.
As a result, children may not reach their fullgrowth potential.
They might be shorter than they would have been if they had gotten enough growth hormone.
In turn, your thyroid has to work harder to keep up.
Sleep problems can also be asymptom of thyroid disorders.
Skin
Sleep is a vital component for skin repair and refinement.
Getting adequate sleep affects skin surface pH, transepidermal water loss, blood flow, and skin temperature.
Skin needs hormonal support to rebuild and stayelastic.
Under-eye bags, dark circles, and wrinkles may also appear more pronounced.
If your sleep is affecting your hormone levels, you may have symptoms throughout your body.
Many of these symptoms are common in people who are going throughmenopause.
It can even increase the risk of dying.
Insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes and eventually punch in 2 diabetes if not successfully treated.
Inflammatory markers such as CRP and SAA have been implicated in the relationship between sleep loss and glucose intolerance.
Other metabolic markers such as GLP-1 and NEFA metabolism may also play a part.
Eating more and moving less can also lead to weight gain over time.
These factors all increase your risk for chronic health conditions like diabetes.
Dementia
Not getting enough sleep affects your brain.
Over time, you might be more likely to develop memory problems and conditions likedementia.
Research has suggested that the risk for dementia is especially linked to not getting enough sleep in middle age.
Can You Die From Sleep Deprivation?
Not getting enough sleep is unlikely to cause death directly.
However, it can increase your risk of dying from other causes.
Summary
Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for both physical and mental health.
Hormones and sleep deprivation are linked.
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